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Hiotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


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CIHM/ICMH 

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d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

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dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — ^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN  ". 

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et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nicessaire.  Las  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


f  errata 
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It 

le  pelure, 

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5 

6 

THE 


INDIAN   EACES 


OF 


NORTH  AND  SOUTH  AMERICA: 


C0MPRI8INO 


AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE   PRINCIPAL  ABOKIGINAL  KACES; 

A  DESCRIPTION  OF  THEIR  NATIONAL  CUSTOMS,  MYTHOLOGY, 

AND  RELIGIOUS  CEREMONIES  ;    THE  HISTORY  OF  THEIR  MOST  POWER- 

FUL    TRIBES,   AND    OF  THEIR    MOST  CELEBRATED   CHIEFS  AND   WARRIORS; 

THEIR   INTERCOURSE    AND  WARS  WITH  THE   EUROPEAN  SETTLERS; 

AND  A  GREAT  VARIETY  OF  ANECDOTE  AND  DESCRIPTION,  ILLUS- 

TRATIVE  OF  PERSONAL  ANJ  NATIONAL  CHARACTER. 


BY 

CHARLES  DE  WOLF  BKOWNELL. 

WITH 

NUMEROUS  AND  DIVERSIFIED  COLORED  ILLUSTRATIONS, 

ENTIRELY  KBW,   MANY  OF  'WniCn  ARE  FROM  ORIGINAL  DBSI0N8, 
EXECUTED  IN  THE  BEST  STYLE  OP  THE  ART,  BY  THE  FIRST  ARTISTS  IN  AMERICA. 


NEW  YOEK: 

H.   E.   &  S.   S.  SCRANTON. 

1853. 


ENTERED,  ACCOKDINCi  TO  ACT  OF  CONGRESS,  IN  THE  YEAR  1852,  BY 


L  U  C  I  IT  S     S  T  F.  n  B  I  N  S , 


IN  THE  CLERK'S  OFFICE  OF  THE  DISTRICT  COURT  OF  CONNECTICUT. 


FOUNDRY  fiF  S.  ANDRUS    AM)    SON, 

II.'tHI'H)l'.I) 

W   ('.  Ariiistruiig,  Tyrit'raplier. 


Hartford: 

W.    S.    \V1  L  L  1  AM  S' 

FRESS. 


PREFACE. 


1852,  BY 


JCTICUT. 


ord: 

,  I,  1AM  S' 

ss. 


From  the  size  of  this  volume,  as  compiired  with  th^  variety  and 
extent  of  the  subjects  under  exnniiniition,  it  will  be  readily  perceived 
that  minuteness  of  di^tail  h;is  been  impossible. 

In  describing  the  adventures  and  proceedings  of  the  pioneers  in 
the  settlement  and  civilization  of  the  Western  Continent,  the  interesU 
ing  nature  of  the  narrative  may  have  led  the  author,  in  some  instances, 
away  from  the  immediate  object  of  his  attention,  viz;  the  manners, 
peculiMiities,  and  history  of  the  aboriginal  inhabitants.  lie  trust.s,  how- 
ever, that  where  tliis  may  appear  to  be  the  case,  it  will  generally  be 
found  to  have  resulted  from  the  inseparable  manner  in  which  the  his- 
tory of  the  natives  and  those  who  have  supplanted  them  is  interwoven. 

So  far  as  has  proved  convenient  or  practicable,  localities  will  be 
found  to  be  in  sucii  a  maimer  pointed  out  or  referred  to,  that  the  reader 
who  is  ordinarily  well  acquainted  with  the  geography  of  the  country 
will  seldom  be  at  fault.  Upon  this  point,  the  opening  of  the  fifth 
book  of  "The  True  Travels,  Adventures,  and  Observations  of  Cap- 
tiiine  lohii  Smith,"  is  worthy  the  attention  of  all  historical  writers.  It 
runs  thus: 

".Before  we  present  you  the  matters  of  fact,  it  is  fit  to  offer  to 
your  view  the  Stage  wliereon  they  w>.re  acted i  for,  as  Geography  with- 
out  History  seemeth  a.  carkasse  without  motion,  so.  History  without 
Geogr.iphy  wandereth  as  a  Vagrant,  without  a  eertaine  habitation." 

The  works  whii-li  have  been  carefully  examined  by  the  author  in 
the  prosecution  of  his  design,  and  from  which  most  of  the  facts  em- 
bodied in  this  outline  of  history  and  description  have  been  obtsiined, 
are  the  following: 

Aincricuii  Aiiliqiiltii's  Htid  Rosdiirchcs  into  !  The  XnturnI   History  of  Man ;   by  Jamei 

tliK  Origin  mid  Illslnry  ol'  tlie  Red  Unco;  j     Oowles  Priclmrd  ; 

by  Alexiiiidor  VV.  liiadi'onl ;  LetterH  mid  Notes  on  the  Nfimners,  CustDins, 

Tlu!  Ilioifriipliy  nml  History  of  tho  rndinns       mid  Condition  of  the  Nortti  Amurieau  In- 

of  North  America ;  by  Sa(nut<l  (j.  Dralie ;       diuus) ;  by  Uecr^c  Catlin ; 


'^<y  ^  K 


'.J  * 


''?-0l) 


I 


h 


TREFACE. 


Tho  History,  Condition,  nnd  Trospects  of  the  \  Slono's  Mfo  of  Jox.  nrnnt— Tmyondnnnupii ; 

Mcruoli'd  or  VVilliitiii  Puiin;  by  Tluiiniui 
Cliiilisdii; 

llcdifWi'ldcrV  Namitivu  of  llio  MiasicHi  of 
tlio  Uiiili'd  Iti'cllireii  iiinunq;  the  Ueluwiu'e 
and  Khi)ii'),'un  Imliiiiis; 

Tho  liifc  of  Williiun  llunry  Iliirrlson,  witli  a 
illMliiiy  of  thit  Wars  will)  tho  llritinli  and 
IndiaiiH  on  our  Nortli-woslirn  Kronlii'rs  ; 

The  AdvcnlurcM  of  Daniel  Hoono;  by  tho 
nnthor  of  I'ndo  I'liiliii'.t  ConvcrHulionsj 

Tho  History  of  Iho  Anicrlran  Indians;  l)y 
Janit's  Adair,  for  forty  years  u  resident 
and  trader  aluiinu  tlieni ; 


Indnin  Tribes  of  the  United  Stales;  by 
Henry  U.  Selioolcrall,  I.Ii.  I); 

The  United  Stales'  F.xploriii'-'  Kxpedition ; 
by  Coniinandur  Charles  Willies; 

Indian  llioernpliy ;  by  II.  II.  Thuclier ; 

Mc  Intosh's  Ilooli  of  the  Indians; 

Travels  of  Capt.  Jonathan  Carver  thro"f,'h 
tho  Interior  of  North  Atneriea,  in  177(»-7-H; 

Indian  Wars  of  the  United  States;  by  Wil- 
liam V.  Moore ; 

Tho  History  of  the  Conqnest  of  Mexico; 
from  the  Spanish  of  Don  .Vntonlo  l)e  Soils ; 

The  Comincst  of  Mexico ;  by  llernal  Diaz. 


del  Castillo,  Ueijidor  of  the  city  of  Uuate-  j  Cobbett's  I.ile  of  Andrew  Jaekson ; 

main,  writti^n  in  Ijfid;  j  The  History  of  fudryia;   by  Cupt.   Hugh 

Prescott's  Conquest  of  Mexico ;  McCall; 

Conquest  of   Mexico  and   Peru;    Harper's  j  The  Adv(^nturi!S  of  Capt.  Bonnovillo  in  the 


series  of  Tales  from  American  History ; 
Robertson's  History  of  America; 
The  Invasion  and  C'oii(|Uest  of  I'lorida,  un- 


Kur  West,  and  amon«  tho  Rocky  Moun- 
tains; by  WashinKlon  Irvintf; 
Cox's  Adventures  tin  the  tXilunibia  River; 


dor  Hernando  do  Solo,  written  l)y  a  gen-    Harrow's  Voynnes  of  Discovery  and  Research 


tleman  of  the  town  of  Eivas; 

Irvine's  Cuiiqiii'st  of  I'lorida; 

Tho  Territory  of  Florida;  by  John  Loc  Wil- 
liams; 

The  True  Travels,  Adventures,  nnd  Observa- 
tions of  Captaiue  liihn  Smith;  from  the 
London  iKlition  of  lii'J'J; 

The  Life  of  Captain  John  Smith  ;  by  W.  G. 
Simins; 


within  Ihu  Arctic  Regions; 

Hack's  Narrative  of  the  Arctic  Land  Expu- 
I     (lilion; 

Greenland,  tho  Adjacent  Sean,  iiml  the  North- 
j      west  Passage;  by  Hernard  O'Hrilly ; 

Parry's  Journal  of  a  jecmid  voyaiie  for  the 
j      Discovery  of  a  Niirtli-west  Pilsshko: 
f  Mackenzie's  lidand  Ilxpeditiun  to  the  Arctic 
(     Ocean ; 


Tlio  History  of  tho  Indians  of  Connecticut; ;  Purchas,  his  Pilgrimage; 


(Tlie  Modern  Traveler ;  by  Josiah  Condor, 
(      Articles  on  South  .^miTica; 
Spanish  America;  by  11.  H.  Uoimycastio; 


by  J(jhn  W.  De  Forrest; 
Baylie's  Memoirs  of  Plymouth  Colony ; 
Barber's   Historical   CoUeetiona,  in   Massa- 

chusaetts  and  Connecticut ;  'i  Irvinu's  Life  of  Columbus ; 

The  Rev.  William  Hubbard's  Narrativo  of  ,  Indian  Tribes  of  (^uianu;   by  Rev.  \V.  H. 

tho  Indian  Wars  in  New  Knuland  ;  writ- )      llretl ; 

ten  in  1TT5  ;  i  Alexander  do  Humboldt's  Travels  in  South 

The  History  of  Philip's  War;   by  Thomas       America; 

Church,  a  son  of  Capt.  Ilenjamin  Church  ;  j  Prescolt's  Ciuunu'st  of  Peru  ; 
New   Kngland's    Memorial;    by   Nathaniel  j  Travels  in  Peru  ;  by  Dr.  J.  J.  Von  Tschudl, 

Morton,  published  in  lUtJU;  I     translated  from  the  tiermau  by  Thomasinu 

The  Publications  of  the  Ma-ssachusselts  His-       Ross  ; 

torical  Society,  especially  thos(!  relating  to    The  Ceographical,  Natural,  nnd  Civil  His- 

the  F.arly  Settlements  in  New  England ;       tory  of  (,'hili;  by  Alibe  don  J.  Ignatius 

including,  among  other  docuniems,  tho  |     Molina;  translated  from  ihi!  originid  Ital- 

Relationa  of  G.  Mourt  and  E.  Winslow  /     ian  by    ii  Anierii'an  (iontleman; 

concerning  the  Pilgrims    at    Plymouth ;    John   Miiwi^'s  Travels    In   tho   Interior  of 

Letters  nnd  Writings  of  Roger  Williams;  i     llrazil; 

Gookin's  Historical  Collections,  &c.,  &c.      Head's  Journey  to   tho  Pampas   and  the 
Schoolcraft's  Notes  on  the  Iroquois ;  i     Andes. 


yomlniu'U'pn ; 
by    Thoiiiiis 

ic  MisaiiHi  cif 
ihe  Uuluwiue 

rrlsoti,  with  a 
m  llrilinh  imd 
n  Kroiilit'iH ; 
iiDiiLS  by  tlio 
iivi'i!«ili()ii» ; 
1  Indiiiiia;  by 
us  u  residunt 

ksdii ; 

,  (Jupl.  Hugh 

inovilUi  ill  the 
Kocky  Moiiu- 

iik; 

iiinbiii  Uivor; 
■y  mid  Uusuiircli 

;lic  liBiid  Expo- 

i,uiid  tliuNiirtU- 
O'U.illy; 
viiyiiui'  fur  tlie 

inn  to  llie  Arctic 


Joaiuli  Cdiidor, 
,  Honnycaatlo ; 

by  Uiiv.  VV.  H. 
I'riivelH  ill  South 

1 ; 

.J.  Von  Tachudl, 
nil  by  Tliomiisina 

1,  mid  Civil  Uis- 

doii  .1.  ImiiiUus 

till!  oriniiiid  Ilol- 

tlt'inmi ; 

tlio  Interior  of 

Pmnpas   and  the 


CONTENTS. 


GKNKKAL    CIlARACTKRIBTrcS.  vmts 

CiiAPTKn  I.    Drigin  of  the  North  Ainericnn  Indians — Some  of  their  Ocneml  Customs 

niid  rt'cnlinrilii's, 13 

CiiAPTitK  II.    Rtligion  of  tlio  liuIinnM— Tliflr  VVeiipons  and  System  of  VVarfiire— 

Tlu'ir  I.o<lgini;s,  Dross,  UrimmciitH,  Slc 'i5 

AMKKICAN    ANTIQUITIES. 

CiiAPTKR  I.    Tnitcd  Slatfs' T<'rrilory,  &c 'M 

CiiAi'TKH  II.    Aniiiiiiitle.t  (if  Mexico,  &c 44 

CiiArTER  III.    Antiquities  of  Houtli  Ainericn, 4U 


THE   ABOKIOINES    OF  MEXICO. 

Chahtkr  I.    (ienoral  Uetniiiks — Kxpcdilion  of  'iiijiilvn — Hernando  Cortez,  . 

CiiA.'TKR  II.    Unities  with  tlie  Natives— Conciliatory  liitercoiifHt — Donna  Marina,    . 

CiiAi'TKR  111.  Coinuiuuications  Willi  tli-'  Mexican  Emperor — The  /.eiiiiioalluiia  and 
Quiavisllaii)!, 

CiiAi'TKii  IV.  The  March  to  Tlascala— Occupation  of  the  City— (iieat  Massacre  at 
Choliila— Eiilraiico  into  the  City  of  Mexico,  and  Interview  with  Montezuma — 
Description  of  tlie  Temple,  &.C 

CuAi'TitR  V.  Seizure  and  Imprisonnient  of  .Moiitezuinn— Execution  of  Qualpupoca 
and  his  Coiiipmiiniis— Omiiioiw  IViwpect.s — I'.xpedition  of  I'ainphilo  do  Narvuei! — 
Success  of  Curie/,  at'aiiist  him— Ueliirn  to  Mexico — (tntraKU  by  Alvarado,  and 
('(iiiKeiineiit  Troubles— Dealli  of  .Monlezuina — The  ^'JVoc/te  Triite" — ilatllu  of 
I ibliimlm,  anil  .Arrival  at  TIascala, 

CuAi'TUR  VI.  Preparations  lor  tlii^Atlack  on  theCily  of  Mexico — Iluilding  and  Trans- 
piirl.'ition  of  Itriwuntines— Siege  laid  to  the  City — .Assault  by  the  Spaniards,  and  their 
Kepulr'e— Siicriike  of  Prisoners — Capture  of  (iautinio/.iii — Comiues,  of  the  Capital, 

C'liAi'iKR  VII.  U('biiildin«  of  the  Cily— Extension  of  Spanish  Powers— The  March 
to  Honduras— Execution  of  tiuutinioy.in— Donna  Marina — Modem  Mexico, 


54 

03 

on 


n 


87 


M! 


106 


THE    FLOIUDA    INDIANS. 

Chapter  I.  Early  Expeditions  of  Spanish  Adventurers — Ponce  de  Leon — L.  Velas- 
(pie/,  de  .Aylldii— Panipliilo  de  Narviiez — Keriiaiido  de  Soto :  his  Laiidini?  and  Estab- 
llshnieiit  at  Tmnpa— Slory  of  John  (l;li/.,  a  Spanish  Captive  anions  the  Indians,       110 

Chaptkr  11.  Progress  Northward- Contests  with  the  Natives— Vitachuco — Expedi- 
tion to  Cutifaclii(iui— Departure  for  the  West, 116 

CiiAi'TKR  III.  From  the  Coiuiuest  by  De  Soto  to  the  Year  1818 — Missionary  Opera- 
tions by  the  Spaniards— Moore's  Invasion  of  Florida — Howies — Wars  of  18I"i — 
Defeat  of  the  Seiiiinoles  by  (ieneral  Jackson, 123 

CuAPTKR  IV.  Coininenceinent  of  the  late  Florida  War — Treaty  of  Moultrie  Creek — 
Trenly  of  Payne's  Laiidiiig— Osceola— Destruction  of  Dade's  Command— Battle  of 
the  Ouithlacoochie— Conference  with  Indian  Chiefs  by  (ieiieriU  dimes,  ,        .        ,  120 

Chapter  V.  Condition  of  East  Florida— tJeii.  Scott's  CiinipalRii— (Jarrison  besieged 
on  the  Ouithlacoochie— Occurrences  during  the  Summer  of  1830— Arrival  of  Creek 
Allies— Colonel  Lane's  Ex|iedition  from  Tampa— Rattle  of  the  Wohoo  Bwoinp — 
tienerul  Jussup  appointed  tu  the  cuiniuaud  iu  Florida, 134 


MMWimMKaur-.- — ».  -^^- 


V' 


6 


CONTENTS. 


PAOI 

OiiAPTiR  VF.  Pursuit  (if  thn  Spininiilcs  S  mlliwanl— IlncdiiiiliT  on  (tip  lliitclu'c  I.us- 
1(H)— Confermici-  niiil  Triic(^  with  tlic  liuliiiiis— H^iicwiil  ol'  tli(t  Ticiily  of  I'liyiic'H 
I.uiidiii);— NoKlcct  (111  tilt)  purl  ot'  tlio  liKiiiiriH  t(i  Cdiiiply  with  ItK  I'niviHidiis— Ciip- 
liins  Hiirri'ndcr,  mul  Tri'iictKiroiis  Sciziiro  (if  viuidus  Chifl's— Dciitli  of  OhlchIii— 
Colonel  Taylor's  l^atiipiiiKd, IIU 

(.'IIAPTCR  VII.  Various  Minor  I'liKaitcini'iits— Surrender  of  lmr|,'e  Nilinliers  of  In- 
diiins— C'ontlnimnce  of  Uepredalions — lllood-lKinnds  from  I'lilia— Attack  iijion  li 
Company  of  Actors— Seminole  Chiefs  broiajht  liack  from  the  West  to  report  their 
Condition  to  their  touiitryinen— (-'olonel  Harney's  Kx])edition  to  the  Kver^lades — 
Knd  of  tho  War- Indians  slii|i|ied  West— Nunilters  still  remaining  in  Florida,    .      MS 

THE    INDIANS    n F   VIliCinaA 

CiiAfTKR  I.  Expedition  of  Ainidas  and  liarlow— (Jf  Hir  Ui(;lmrd  (Jrenvillo— Of 
llartholoniew  tiosnoll,  with  Caption  Hmitli— Settlement  at  Jamestown -Visit  to 
I'owhntnn— Iinpnividenre  and  Dillleulties  of  the  Colonists— Kxploration  of  tho 
('hickahominy—Hinltli  taken  I'risonor—llis  Treatment  l)y  the  Indians,     ,        .        ,151 

CiiAi'TKR  II.  Court  of  Powhatan— Smith's  rre^ervaliim  liy  I'oeahontas- Supplies 
by  the  Indians— Newport's  Arrival— Smith's  K.xpeditions  up  the  Chesapeake,     .       KiO 

CuAi'TBK  III.  C(Jidnation  of  Powhatan— Smith's  Visit  to  Werowocomoeo  for  Sii|i- 
plies — Treachery  of  Powhatan— Smith  a  second  lime  Preserved  by  Pocahontas — 
Visit  to  Pamimky— l'ii<lit  with  the  Kim,'  of  Paspaheuh— Ascendancy  of  the  KukIIsIi,  171 

CiiAl'TKK  IV.  Distress  of  the  Colonies- .Martin  and  West's  Seltlements— Arrival  of 
Lord  Do  la  Warre— Itetalialions  Ulion  the  Natives — Seizure  of  Pocahontas:  Iter 
Marriaije— Peace  with  the  Indians — Pocuhontus  visits  Knglaiid:  Her  Death— Death 
of  Powhatan— Pory's  Settlement, 181 

CiiArTieii  V.  The  Virginia  .Mas.sacro  of  10'J2  and  of  IG4I  (or  1044) — Death  of  Djio- 
chaiicanoiiKh, 101 

CuAPTKR  VI.  Smith'))  Account  of  thuNumlior8,A]ipeuruiicc  and  Habits  uf  the  Indians,  1U4 

NEW  ENGLAND   INDIANS. 

Chapter  I.  Condact  of  the  Karly  Voyai^ers- Arrival  of  the  May-Flower— Saniosol — 
Tisqunntum — Ma-ssa-soit—VVeslon'sColony—Caiinbilant's Conspiracy— Trade  in  Fire 
Arms— Thos.  Morton — Death  of  Ma.ssaHoit  and  Alexander,  and  Accession  of  Pliilip,  19!) 

Chaptkr  II.  The  Narriiljanselts- The  Pe(|Uols— .Murder  of  Stono  and  DIdliam— 
Kndicott's  Kxpedition— Tho  Peeiuot  War— Destruction  of  tlie  Pe(iuol  Fort— Tho 
Tribe  Dispersed  and  Subdued, 209 

Chapter  III.  Quarrel  Ijetween  the  Narr.iKanselts  and  .MohcKan.s— I'ncas  and  .Mian- 
toiiimo— The  Molieijan  Land  Controversy— SnbsiMiuent  Condition  of  the  Pe(piots 
and  Moheifans, 319 

Chapter  IV.  Tho  Indiana  furnished  with  Fire-Arms— Silmili  in  of  the  Colonisls— 
Philip's  Accession — His  Treaties  with  the  Whiles— His  Tru  s  Plans— Fmlssaries 
Rent  to  Sogkonate— Captain  Iteiijamin  (Church- His  Interview  with  Awushonks- 
Miirder  of  John  Sassamon, SitH 

Chapter  V.  Attack  on  Swansoy— Collection  of  Troops— Fight  at  Miles'  Itridge — 
Philip  driven  from  the  Neck— Church  at  Pn';kalese— Destruction  of  Hrooktield,     ,  2;)7 

Chapter  VI.  Philip  moves  Wostward-.'Vtlacks  on  lladley  and  Deerlleld — (Joll'e  tho 
Kegici(l(! — D(;struction  of  I.athroji's Command— .Assaults  on  Springlleld  and  llalfieUI 
—  Kxpedition  against  the  Narragansotts :  Outrageous  (.'rnelties  in  their  Kediiclion— 
Philip  on  tho  Hudson— Destruct'ii  of  Lancaster,  Me(llleid,Seekonk,(;rotoii,Warwick, 
Marlborough,  &.C.— Canonchet  taken,  and  put  to  Ik'alh- Further  Indian  Ravages,    240 

Chapter  Vll.  Philip's  Return  to  Pokaaoket — Major  Talcoll's  Succeasos— Church 
C(minii8sionBd  tiy  tho  Court  at  Plymouth— His  Interview  with  Awoshonks:  with 
tho  Sogkonates  at  Sandwich— His  Campaign  against  tho  Indians— Pliili|i  seen:  his 
Wife  and  Son  takou— Death  of  Weetamoro,  Quoeuuf  PociisHot— Death  of  Philip,  .  2."ifi 


L 


PKdM 

lice  r.uv 

I'liyiii'V 
iw— Ciip- 
)scfiilu— 

.  140 

TS    111'   111- 

I  upon  Ik 
Kill  tlii'ir 
rKlmIrs— 
ridn,    ■      113 

ivllle— Of 
-Vinit  to 
III    III'   tliu 

.  J5l 
-Siip|ilif» 
iiikf,    .      1(10 
I  (iir  i^n\y 

llllOlllllH — 

t'.  Kiiuli»lii  171 
Arrival  of 
imUi«;  lli:r 
itli— Deulh 

.  181 
th  of  f>pi.- 

.       IBl 
lio  liidiuiis,  1U4 


Siiiiioscl— 
mil'  ill  I'iif 
II  ol  I'liilip,  19'J 

<  ilillmiii— 

Foil— Tho 

.      209 

I  iiiiii  Miaii- 

|H1    I'lMlllOlH 

.  219 

I'ololii.slH — 
-l''.iiil.'*!'nrin9 
woshoiiks- 

.  228 
is'  BriilRR — 
iiokllt'ld,  .  2:17 
1— »;(jfl'n  Iho 
aiiilllultiiUt 
Ucdiiclioii— 
iii,\Varwick, 

II  Kavai;(»,    346 
ses — Church 
hoiiks:  with 

lip  seen:  lii» 
I  ol  Philip,  .  2.-)fi 


CONTENTS.  7 

PA.nB 
CiiArxKR  VIII.     Piirsiillof  Annnwdii  and  Mis  Party— Darlnu  Priiccdiirc  of  Captain 
Church— Kiid  of  the  War,  and  Final  Dlnposal  of  Prisoners— Hiiinniiiry  of  the  CuUmial 

Losses, 21)7 

('lUPTKR  IX,  The  Kastern  liullnns— -Their  Friendly  Disposition— Seizure  of  thnso 
lin|ilicai.e<l  In  Philip's  Conspiracy— French  and  Indian  War  In  KW'.t— Attack  on  Co- 
checo— Murder  of  Major  VValdron— War  of  170i— Churcli'n  Last  CampiiiKii— War 
of  1T22— Captain  Juliii  Luvuwull, 273 

THK  IROQUOIS,  OR   SIX    NATIONS 

CiiAPTSR  I.  Ocneral  Outlines  of  Character,  &c.— Impressions  of  tho  Inhnbltnnts  of 
New  KiiKland  respecting  the  Iroquois— fiaranijnla:  Ills  Speech  to  M.  do  la  Barrc,     280 

CiiAi'TKH  II.  lro(|Uois  Trmllllon  relative  to  their  Former  lllsti  —A  Brief  Ac- 
count of  the  dllfereiit  trilies  lielonKing  to  tho  Cunfedorncy,  and  tho  manner  of  their 
I'liion — Incidents  of  Karly  Warfare, 28tJ 

Ciui'TKK  III.  Important  CharacterH  and  Events  of  tho  EiKhtcenth  Century— Brant— 
Crcsap'fl  War,  and  History  of  liOfjan, 295 

(.'iiAi'Tuii  IV.  History  of  ilniiit  continued:  Conncxiun  of  tho  Six  Nations  with  the 
War  ol  tho  Ainerinin  Uevolutlon, aCi 

CiiAi'TicK  V.    Conlinuntion  of  Reviiliitionnry  Incidents, 313 

CiiAi'TKR  VI.  (.'eiieral  .Sullivan's  Cumpaittn  aijainat  tho  Iroquois— Sulwequent  Wiir- 
llki- 1  ipi'ialions  of  the  Nations, 301 

CiiAi'i  KR  VII.  CiiiMlition  of  the  Six  Nations  sulisequent  to  tho  Revolution- Conclu- 
sion of  Hraiil's  History— Ued-Jiicket  and  Corn-Planter,       3'i7 

CiiAi'TKR  VIII.    Present  Condition  of  the  Six  Nations, 3;iG 

PONTTAOS  WAR 
Chapter  I.    French  Influence  over  the  IndianH— British  Occupation  of  the  Western 

Posts— Pontine,  and  his  Plans  for  exlertninatiiiK  the  English, 340 

Chaptkr  II.    Siege  of  Detroit— Battle  of  Bloody  Bridge, 344 

THE  DELAWARES,  SUAWANEES, 

AND    (I'lltEll   TIUIIKS    or     THK    Uinnr.E    AND    WICSTKRH    STATH8. 

Chapter  I.  The  Delawnres- William  Penn— SI.  Tammany- The  Moravians— The 
Shawaneos — French  and  Indian  War— Bruddock's  Defeat — .Massacre  of  the  Canes- 
tn),'ii  Indians— Daniel  Boone, 318 

CiiAPTE  R  II.  Division  of  the  DelawnreB— White-Eyes,  and  I'ipe — Indian  Cimfederacy 
of  nsi — Attack  on  Bryant's  Station,  and  Battle  near  tho  llliie  Licks— (Jeneral 
Clarke'sExpedilioii— Disastrous  CampalRn  of  Harinar  andSt.Clnir— .Mililaiy  Opera- 
tions of  (Jeneral  Wayne— Decisive  Battle  near  the  Maumee  Rapids,  and  subsequent 
Treaty  of  Peace, 3<il 

CiiAPiER  111.  Condition  of  the  Indians  subsequent  to  the  Peace— The  Prophet  F.lsk- 
wiitawu— Tecuinseh :  His  Plans  and  Intriijues— (Jeneral  Harrison's  Expcililion 
ngiiinst  the  Prophet's  town— Defeat  of  the  Indians  at  Tippecanoe— War  of  1812— 
lluiTison's  Invasion  of  Caiinila— Battle  of  the  Thames,  and  Death  of  Tecuinseh,      .  "liH 

Chapter  IV.  Acquisition  and  .Sale,  by  the  United  States,  of  Indian  Land  in  Illinois 
—Black-Hawk — The  Sacs  removed  west  of  the  Mississippi— Return  of  Black-Hawk 
1111(1  his  Followers— Defeat  of  Major  Stillinan— The  Hostile  Indiiins  pursued  by  At- 
kinson ond  Dodge— Their  Defeat  on  the  bank  of  tho  Mississippi— Black-Hawk's 
Surrendor— He  is  taken  to  Wiushington— His  Subsequent  Career,  ,       ...     370 

INDIANS  OF  THE  SOUTHERN  STATES. 
Chapter  I.    Early  Location,  Niiinl)er9,  Character,  &c.,  of  tho  Catnwbas ;  of  the  Upper 
and   Lower  Cherokecs;  of  the  Miiscogees  or  Creeks;  of  the  Choctaws;  of  tho 
Cbickusaws — French  War  with  the  Natchez  and  Chicknsaws, 383 


I 


8 


CONTENTS. 


FAOI 


CiiAPTiR  II,  Colonlzntlon  of  {Jcortflii— Enrly  Iiitiircoiimo  with  tho  NrIIvob— Tomo- 
chichl— Iiitrigiii'ii  of  tho  Hiivcri'iid  Thiiniim  llomimwtirlh— Churokt'ti  VVor  of  17.W— 
Attuk\illakiill»  iind  Ocediioutotii— Miirilcr  of  Itidluii  lloxtiiKi'H— (Joloiii'l  MoiiIl-iiii. 
nry'rt  Kxpt'ditUiii— Dostnictloii  of  tliii  Kunturii  Chrroki-o  Towns— lliitllo  iiciir  Ktchoo 
— Capilidutlori  at  Fort  liOiidoii— tndinn  TrcncliKry— Cunipaign  of  Colunul  (jraiit, 
and  Coiiiplutu  Reduction  of  tho  C'hurokcuH, 300 

CiiAi'TKR  III.  Cnpliiln  SI(3imrt'H  Agency— DlHtnrbmiCB  In  17117— Visit  of  Teeiini««h  to 
(ho  Houlhcrn  Trihca— VV»'nlh((rf(ird— Hack  of  Fort  Minims— War  of  1H13— (iiinoral 
JackKoii'H  Campaign— Mallk'H  on  tlio  TalliinahBtthfe ;  at  Talladrxa,  AiitoHm'o,  kc. — 
Tho  Ilullihi-vs— Ut'fcat  of  lliu  IndianH  at  lloruu-Hhou  licnd— Kiid  of  tho  War,  .       .  VYi 

t'liAPTKR  IV.  Tho  Romoval  of  tho  Chrrokot's  went  of  tho  MlHNlHBlppl — Prcsunt  Loca- 
tion and  Condition  of  thu  othur  Trlbi^H  of  thti  Southern  Htatua,      .       .       ,       ,411 

NOH'l'llKUN   HACKS. 

CiiAPTKR  I.  Thu  Es()uimniix:  their  Manncrx  and  I'lTMinal  Appparnnce — Accounts 
of  Karl)-  Voyagers —i;!i(|uiniaux  Ilabitaliontt,  Food,  &o. — The  Kalak  or  Canoi'— 
BealinK- Tho  Roln-dufr— Uboh  of  Ihn  Dug— Patriarchal  (iovcrninont— Klfi'ds  of 
F<iri'ii;n  Intercourno, 410 

C'mai'Tkk  II.  Tho  I'^nuiniaiix  of  Melville  Peninsula— Their  Stature  and  Costume — 
Hnow  Huts  and  their  Furniture— Impluincnts  fur  Hunting  ami  Healing— Mental 
Traits, 4J(1 

CnAi'TER  111.    The  Knistcuunux,  Chlppewas,  &.C 431 

VARIOUS    NATIONS  AND  TRIBES 

TUTTWFKN    THK    M  laHI  ?!SI  1  1  I     AMI)    THE     rAC'lFK!    orlfAM. 

CiiAPTiR  I.  Tho  Sioux  or  Dahculas,  anil  other  Trihes  of  tho  naine  Race:  (.'iHSslflca- 
tiun- Tho  Maiidaiis:  Tlieir  Numlier,  Situation,  Viiiaj^es,  &c.— Thuir  Cemeteries — 
AITi'ctiuii:de  Reniemliranco  of  the  Di'ad, •        ,      iff! 

Chapter  II.  I'crsonnl  Appearance  and  PtMviliarltieH  of  the  Manduns— Their  lliiH|ii- 
tality  and  Urbnnily— Their  CleanlinesH  of  I'erMuTi— Their  Dress— Pcirlruils  of  Man- 
dan  Chiefs— Contrast  between  llu!  Wild  Tribes  anil  Itinso  of  the  Friintier- Mandaii 
Domestic  Usaxes- (James  aiul  Dances -Training  of  the  Vouth— The  (ireal  Annual 
Religious  Ceremony— Tho  Maiidans  sujiposed  to  be  of  Welsh  Descent— Annihila- 
tion of  tho  Tribe  by  the  Hmiill-pox, 44tJ 

Chapter  III.  The  Sioux,  ciintinued- Their  MihIo  of  Life— Maternal  AfTectiim— Kx- 
piisure  of  the  Aged— The  famous  Uuarry  of  Red  Pipe-stone— Nature  of  this  .Material 
— Indian  Siiperstitiulis  respecliimit— Tlie  IliSoii  or  lliilfalo— lliiixes  of  the  Indians — 
Various  Modes  of  lliintini;  the  liuinilo— Wasteful  Deslructiun  of  the  Herds,        .      4,5.", 

Chapter  IV.  Indians  of  the  (Jreat  Western  Piairie.s— Their  Summer  and  Winter 
Lodges— Tho  Medicine-lhig— The  Crows  and  Ulackfeet- Knees  Hostile  to  the  latter 
Tribe— Fortitudo  of  a  Hlackl'out  Warrior— The  Crow  Chief  Anipouish  nnd  his  Guest 
—Indian  Conce|)lion9  of  u  Perfect  Coiintry— Story  of  Lurullo  and  his  Indian  Wife- 
Adventures  of  Kusatu,  a  Biackluot  Warrior, 403 

Chapter  V.  Tribes  on  the  Columbia  and  its  Trilmtaries— The  Nez-Perces— Their 
Religious  Character— Tho  Walla-wallas— The  Chinooks- .Mode  of  Flattening  tho 
lleoil- Tho  lliitoquo— Cttiioeo  of  tho  Tribes  on  the  Lower  Waters  of  the  Columbia 
—Fishing— Houses  of  the  Flat-heads, 473 

Chapter  VI.  The  Shoshonees,  or  Snake  Indians— The  Shoshukues,  or  Root-<ligger8— 
Kxtent  of  Country  occupied  by  the  S.iakes- The  Camnnches :  Their  Horsemanship, 
Mode  of  Life,  Dwellings,  &.C.— Tho  Pawnee  Picts— The  Nahujos  and  Muqucs,       .  477 


CONTKNT.S. 


i— Tom<>- 
i)f  nSD- 
iliiiilir'uu- 
iir  Klctioo 
lul  tirBiiti 

iimnscli  to 
— (imitiral 
(ten,  tc. — 
I'ur,  .  .  4(« 
sunt  Loca- 
.       .      411 


-Accounts 
>r  Ciuioe— 
-Kiri'Cts  of 

Ciifllume— 
ng— Mentul 


•  :  ('tiissillca- 
;fmi!terlea — 


m 


riwir  IIoHpi- 
uil»  of  Mim- 
icr— Mamliiii 
IrtMil  Anmml 
Aiuiiliilii- 

ircrtiDii— Kx- 
lhi!i  MiiU'riiil 
llii'  liidiiiriH— 
liTd!*, 
uiid  WiiiliT 
Id  llic  liitliT 
liml  hlsOili'st 
ridiiiiiWiro 

Ccrci's— Thtiir 
■'liiltt'iiiiiK  Iho 
lliu  CuUiinbitt 

l()ol-(li(,'Ki!r8— 
loraemiuisliil't 
Mu(iue3, 


4r..-) 


403 


473 


477 


SOUTH     AMERICA. 


TRIUKS    OF    THE   WK8T   INDIES, 

AND    Tlllt    NnmilKIlN    rROVINi'K!)    (tV    Son  I  II    AUVHU'K  riO» 

t'liAPTKR  I.  IncliiuiM  (lr«l  df'i'n  by  C(iliimbii»— liiiii<lliii{  iil  (iimiinbiifil— Niillvt'H  of 
C'libii— IliiibiiUHy  lo  the  (iiaiid  Kabul— DiwMivi'iy  cif  llayli,  aiid  liilinviiiim' wllb 
tbt<  Natlvi'H—Ciiaranauarl— Wreck  of  Ibii  A<lmlral'8  Vessel— llniiculy  and  llnxpl- 
tallly  of  ibc  Nalivii  InbabitanlN— Tiadc  lur  (ioUl— lliiildim(  (if  Ibn  I'lnlir^M  nl"  l.ii 
Navlcbid— Ui'|iarluri'  nl'  Ibti  Nliui— Tlic  t'it{iiayan»— DiiiinUTH  ami  Ih'mriictiDii  of 
tbit  (iari'imiii  I't  l<H  N'avldad— I'ort  of  Hi.  Tbdinas, 487 

t'lui'TKii  II.  Inillaria  III' Jamaica— CnilMi)  alcniK  Ibn  HuulbiTn  Count  of  Culm— Spt'i'cb 
oC  ail  Indian  ('oiiiiW'lliir—DilllciillicM  al  tbr  I'mln  ^<i  nl'  Hi.  Tlmmaa— Its  Siri{»  by 
C'acpiiabii— KlTiirls  of  (.'oIiiiiiIiiih  to  ri'sloru  Ordir— (Ileal  Uhlia;  of  tlio  liidiaiin  of 
IliHpaiiiola— Their  Dnrcat— Tribiilii  linponcd— Visit  ipf  Harlbnldiiicw  to  .\aiii«iiay — 
I'lirtbcr  liiHuiicclion  In  tb«  V'r(<a— llobadilla  hm  Viceroy— CrucltlcH  practised  on  Ibo 
IndiaiiN— l.iiM  ('ap<as— Incident  related  by  I'lircban — Adniinistration  of  Uvaiido — 
Kxpediliiin  iiu'ain»t  .Xarak'iiay— Uediiclliiii  of  lli^iiey, 40.5 

I'liAHTKK  III.  Tlie  Caribn— Tbeir  NiandH  I'IimI  Visited  by  Columbus— Orlnlii  and 
Iiiicaticiiiol  llie  Unci'— Ti)keiiHol'CaiiMilialiMii  seen  liy  tlie  Spaniard.'* — Cruise  aiminif 
tbe  Islanils— HeiiieaiKir  cjf  Prisoners  taken— Ketiirn  to  ilispaniola — Destniction  of 
tbe  I'orlress  III  lliiit  Island— Capture  of  Ciuaiabo:  Ills  Oeatli— l'..\piilsiiai  nftlie  Na- 
tives I'loni  tbe  Caribbee  Islands,    506 

CiiAl'THK  IV.  Indians  ol  Ciiiaiia  anil  Venezuela — Classillcaiicui — Tlie  .\rawaks — 
rirsl  seen  by  Ciiluinbiis— Kiilry  into  tbe  (iult'  nf  I'aria— Ibispilality  ol'  tbe  Niilives 
— Kalelub's  Visit  to  tbe  ( trinoi'i)- Karly  Wars  nl'  tbe  .\rawaks— Victory  civer  tbo 
Caribs— .Maroon  Neuroes— I'lcsent  Condition  of  tbo  Aruwaka— Otber  Tribes  ol'  tbo 


Inturior— (ionerul  Ui'scrlption, 


513 


THE    AUOUtaiNES    OK    PEUU. 

CiiAPTKR  I.  Pbyslcttl  Peculiarities  of  tbe  Quicbiina,  Aymaras,  Atncaiimg,  mid  Chnn- 
gdS— Natiiru  ol'  tbe  Country— Peruvian  Wnrks  of  .Art,  &o.  — I'irst  Kuniors  iif  tbo 
Weallb  of  tbe  Country — Expedition  of  Pascual  de  .\n(bn<i)yii— Kraiicisco  Pi/.aiTo: 
IPs  rirst  Vciyai?!!  of  Discovery— .\lMiai,'ni's  Voyatfe— Contract  of  Pizarro,  .Minaijfo, 
and  liUipie — The  Secmid  I'.xpi'dilbui — Pizarro  and  bisCiunpaniiuis  upon  tliu  Isleuf 
(!(ir|.'oiia—l'()ntinnation  (if  tbe  VoynKe—Keluni  ti)  Panama, 5SJ0 

CliAPTKH  II.  Mylbiiliiniciil  Traditions— Tcipii  liica  Vopaiu'lii,  aial  bis  Hmi  lliinyna 
('Mpac— Tbe  Peruvian  I'apilal— Kelii,'iiius  Sysleni— (inviTiuiient — .Agrarian  Law — 
Iilanias — Public  Ueccjrds :  Tbe  "  {^ik/o/" — .Vnricultiiri'— Marriawes — Warlike  Policy 
of  the  liicas— Tbe  (Ileal  lloads— Ciuilenlmenl  of  the  Natives — Division  of  tbe  Kin- 
plie:  Iluascar  and  Alabnallpa— Contest  for  ^iiprenmcy, 5H1 

CiiAi'TKR  III.  Pi/.arro's  Visit  to  Spain,  and  Applicalion  to  tbe  Kmperor— His  I'oiir 
Itrotliers— Funds  procured  for  a  New  Expedition  to  Peru— Vessels  iiKaiii  lilted  out 
ut  Panama — IiandiiiK  of  tbe  Spaniards  upon  tbe  Peruvian  Coast— PlundiT  al  Coaiiuo 
—Tbe  .Marcli  towards  Tiimbez— Battles  on  tbe  Isle  of  Piliiu— Tuinbez  Descried — 
Settlement  of  San  Miguel — Marcb  into  tbo  Interior — Passage  of  tbe  Andes — Mes- 
i)Ui;es  from  Alabiiallpa-Kntry  into  ('axamaica, 543 

CuAi-TicR  IV.  First  Interview  witb  tbe  Inca— Plans  for  bis  Capture- Kniry  of  .Ala- 
huallpa  into  CaxaniaIca — Address  of  tbe  (^baplalii — .Attack  by  tbe  Spaniards: 
Fearful  Massacre  of  tbe  Natives,  and  Seizure  of  tbe  Inca— Prisoners  and  Plunder 
ubtuiued — The  Proinisud  Iltumum — llernundo  Pizario'a  Visit  lu  Pacbacumucu — 


'> 


II 


10 


CONTENTS. 


Challcuchitnn — Mossengerg  sent  to  Ciizco— Immense  Treasure  collected  nt  Caxu- 

malca — Trial  and  Murder  of  Atahiiallpa,         .        .  551 

Cbaptxr  V.  March  towards  Ciizco— Ojiixisitiim  of  the  Natives— Death  of  Toparca, 
and  Murder  of  Challcucliimn— Manco  Capnc— JOntry  into  the  Capital— Booty  ob- 
tained—Escape of  Manco,  and  General  Insurrection— Siej?e  of  Cnzco — Reverse.'  of 
the  Spaniards— Civil  Wars— Further  Hostilities  of  Manco  Ca|)ac— Cruel  Trtatnieiit 
of  the  Natives— Death  of  Mnnco  Capac— Uefurms  under  Pedro  de  la  Gnsea— Tupac 
Amaru— Insur-ection  of  17H1— Present  Condition  of  the  Peruvian  Indians,     .       .  563 

THE  ARAUCANIAN    KACE 

Chapter  I.  Their  JiOention,  Appearimce,  &c. — Purchaa'  Description  of  Chili— Divi- 
sion of  the  Tribes— Peruvian  Coiniuests— Aijriculture,  Arts,  &e.,  among  the  Natives 
— Almagro's  Invasion — Kxpedition  of  Pedro  de  Valdivia— F'oundiiiB  of  St.  Jago — 
Battles  with  the  Mnpochinians- Destruction  of  S|)ani8h  Miners— Peace  with  the 
Protnuuciiuis, 574 

Chapter  II.  The  Araucanians  Proper— Character  and  Habits  of  the  Tribe — Houses 
and  Dress— Sectional  Divisions  and  (iovernment— System  of  VV'arlare— Courage 
and  Military  Sliill— Iteliglous  Belief  and  Superstitions — Patriotism  and  Public 
Spirit  of  the  Natives— .Molina's  Kulogium,  .        , 579 

Chaptkk  111.  Army  sent  to  Oppnse  the  Progress  of  tho  Spaniards— Battle  on  the 
Adalien—Lincoyan's Campaign — Valdivia's  Marcli  Southward- Foundalionof  Val- 
divia,  and  Kstablishment  of  Forts  in  the  Araucanian  Territory — The  Natives  roused 
by  Colociilo — Caupolican  made  Toipii — His  .fuceesses — (Ireal  Victory  over  thu 
Spaniards— Death  of  VaUliviu— Invasion  of  Arancu  by  Villagran — His  Defeat — 
Deslrnelidii  of  Conce])tion— I.autaro's  Fatal  Kxpedllinii  .Against  Santiago,  .        .      585 

CiiAPTKii  IV.  D(Mi  (Jarcia  de  Mendoza;  His  F.stablishnieiit  at  Uuiri(iuiini — Fort  of 
Miiunl  Pinto  attacked  by  Caupolican- Don  (larcla's  luvaslun  of  Arauco;  His 
Cruelties— Fxpedition  to  Chiloe — Arit'ul  .Management  of  the  Cunches— Seizure  and 
Cruel  death  of  Caupolican— Sul)SiMiuent  Successes  of  the  Spaniards— Uelreat  of  the 
Natives  to  the  .Marshes  of  Luinaco— Indian  Victory  at  Mount  Mariguenu— General 
Summary  of  Succc  eding  Hostilities, 594 

CilAPTKR  V.  Vicerciyally  of  Martin  Loyola— Paillainachu — Renewal  of  the  War — 
Loyola  Slain — General  Insurrection  of  the  NiUives— T'c  Spaniards  Driven  from  Iho 
Country  South  of  the  Hio-Hio— Bloody  Campaigns  iiihlcr  several  succossive  Toquis 
—Pence  of  1040— Ten  Years'  War— Subsequent  Treaties  and  Hostilities— Present 
Position  of  the  ...aucanians, 602 

INDIAN    TRIBES    OF    BRAZIL. 

CitAPTER  I.  Physical  Characteri.itics- Piiizon's  Discoveries — Landing  of  Pedro  Al- 
varez Cal)ral  upon  the  Brazilian  Coast— Kxpedition  under  Vespucius— Cannibalism 
— Colonization  of  the  Country,  and  Wars  with  the  Natives— Fate  of  Juan  do  Soils, 
at  the  Fstuiiry  of  La  Plata— Settlement  of  Bahia  deTcidos  Santos  by  Diogo  Alvarez 
— The  Jesuits- Particulars  of  the  Cannibal  Propensities  of  the  Natives— The  Boto- 
cudos,      .       •        • 609 

CiiArrER  II.  Success  of  the  Portuguese  Against  the  Natives— Their  Cimtests  with 
Settlers  from  other  Countries  of  F.urope— F.nglish  Colony  at  Paraiba — Kxpulsion  of 
Guarani  Tril)es  from  their  Country  on  La  Plata— Division  of  Brazilian  Nations- 
Daily  Routine  of  Indian  Life  in  the  Forosts- Uefleclions, 610 

THE  PAMrA,S    INDIANS 
Their  Horsemnnshlp— Their  Mode  of  Lilo— Sir  Francis  Head's  Description  of  the 
Race- Female  Captives  among  tho  Indians— Trading  Visits  to  European  Settle- 


men 

Eun 


Early  ] 
of  th 
In  ha 
Scan 
riod 
IslaiK 
Expe 


Of  the 


Of  Inter 


\l 


P.4.0B 

at  Caxa- 
.       .      551 

Toparca, 
Booty  ob- 
BvorsCk'  of 
rieatmeiit 
;a— Tupac 
3,     .       .  563 


liili— Divi- 
lie  Natives 
St.  Jago— 
!  with  the 

.  .  574 
e — Houses 
I— Courage 
jia  Public 
.  .  .  579 
tie  on  the 
.it)ii  of  Val- 
ves rouat'd 
■  over  tho 
a  Defeat— 
;(),  .  .  685 
la— Fort  of 
•auco;  His 
'I'iziirc  ami 
Ireat  of  the 
u— General 

.       .       .  594 

the  War- 
en  from  tho 
aive  Toijiiis 
ea— Present 

.      602 


if  Pedro  Al- 
>nnibaliam 
an  do  Sella, 
ugo  Alvarez 
—The  Boto- 


609 


intests  with 
Kxpulsion  of 
n  Nations — 


619 


ption  of  the 
pean  Settle- 


CONTENTS, 


11 


menta-Classiflcatlon  of  Tribes-Change  in  their  Condition  by  the  Introduction  of 
European  Domestic  Aniinujs, 

THE  PATAGONIANS. 
Early  Exapgernted  Reports  concerning  them-Raco  to  which  they  belong-Nature 
of  tho  Country-Terra  del  Fuego-General  Description  and  Classiaealion  of  the 
Inhnbitants-Caplain  Fitzri.y's  Narrative-Physical  Conformation  of  the  Natives- 
Scantiness  of  their  Ciolhing-Their  Hu.s,  Resources  for  Food,  etc.-ruegians  car- 
riod  to  England  by  Filzroy-Atlempt  at  tho  Introduction  of  Agriculture  on  the 
Island-Pecherais  described  in  Wilkes' Narrative  of  the  United  Slates' Exploring 
Expedition,         ...  .  »         s 


PAr.B 


624 


INDIAN    POPULATION 
Of  the  United  States  and  Territories, 

IMPORTANT   ERAS    AND   DATES 
Of  Interesting  Events  in  Indian  History, 


629 


485 


637 


f'Ji 


T 


1 

LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATlOxNS 

I 

SUBJECT. 

PAQX 

Prontispikck— Interview  between  Cortez  nnd  Montezuma,  .          .          • 

1 

Indiiiii  iliiw  mill  Ari'ows,  Ilarixnin,  llaxket.  Pot,  Kowl,  &c.             .           . 

S4 

Iiidiun  Tomnliiiwk,  Kettle,  S|)(i(in,  Pipe*,  &c.      .           .           ,           .           , 

.      25 

Pdrliail  (if  Miuiliziitnii,  in  liis  MiiKiiillceiit  Kexiil  DreBS,    .           .           . 

54 

Heiniiiidd  Cmtez,  fnun  iin  DiiKiiml  Pdrtrail  by  Titian,            .           ,           . 

.      5t5 

Execiitldii  (  f  (ill  Iiidiiui  Captive,         ...... 

vn 

Porliait  df  Osceola,  the  Celebrated   Florida  Chief,        .... 

.  laj 

Portrait  of  Captain  John  Smith,  the  Pioneer  of  Vii'Kinia,              .            , 

IM 

Pocahontas  liiterposiiii,'  for  the  Lito  of  Captain  John  Smith,            ,           , 

.    161 

Interview  of  Samoaet  with  the  Pilgrims,        ..... 

iWU 

The  Colonifts  (foini,'  to  Church  Armed,  diirini,'  the  Early  Indian  Wars,        . 

.    Silt) 

Kill!,'  Philip,  the  Ahorii?iiial  Hero  of  Moiiiit  Hope,             .            ,            . 

233 

Portrait  of  Captain  lleiijaiiiin  Clmich,     ...... 

.    273 

Joseph  Hrant,  (Tiiaye.ndankoka.)  of  VVy(  iiiim;  Notoriety,            .            . 

2117 

Red  Jacket,  the  Masterly  Orator  and  Chief  of  li.e  Seiieaig,  .           .           . 

.    330 

Hall-Playini;,  as  practised  by  the  Western  Tribes,     .... 

343 

Portrait  of  William  PcMin,  the  Founder  of  Pciiiisylviinia,        .           .           . 

.     34!t 

Colonel  (leoi'Ke  WiLfhinijlon,  as  Aid  de-Cainp  to  (ieiieral  Uradduck,      .            . 

352 

lioiiler  I'.ucoimter,  a  Scene  from  Early  Weati'rn  Life,             .           ,           . 

.    Still 

Trappini;  the  Hear,         ....            .... 

301 

fieiienil   Harrison,  surrounded  with  niipropriiile  N.itional  Eniblutng,              . 

.    308 

Tecuiiiseli,  the  renowned  Chief  of  the  Western  Tribes,      . 

3t)>.l 

The  Eacle,  a  Type  of  Swiftness,  StreiiKth,  nnd  S^iiperiority,     .           .           . 

.     3U2 

Indian  Settlement,  represeiiliiii}  their  Costumes,  Tents,  4tc.            .            . 

3<.I3 

fieiieral  Ji.cksoii,  on  bis  favorite  White  Charter,           .... 

.     411'.) 

The  Silver  Fox,  ofleii  confounded  with  the  Loup  Noir,  or  Illack  Wolf, 

4J1 

Indians  Watching  for  Salmon,      ....... 

.     433 

Indian  War-Dance,  as  practised  among  tho  Mundnns,        .           .           . 

44t< 

Indian  Encampment,  West  of  the  Mississippi,  ..... 

.     40.-) 

Tlie  Deer,  formerly  one  of  the  most  valuable  Animals  of  America,        . 

472 

Tlie  Bison,  generally  called  the  Hulfalo,                           ,            .            ,            , 

.    470 

Tlie  lilfick  S(|uiriel,  a  beautiful  little  Animal  of  North  America,           . 

477 

The  Crizzly  Hear,  abounding  in  the  Nortli-wuwt  Territory,       .           .           , 

.    47o 

Hulfalo  Cliaio,  peculiar  to  the  Western  Indians,      .... 

4W) 

Portrait  of  Christopher  Columbus,           ...... 

.  m> 

Mniiuarri  IJance,  in  the  Lower  Dislricl  of  Pomeroon,        .           .           , 

512 

An  In('.:.ii  Sorcerer  performing  hia  Ceremonies  over  the  Siclt,        .           , 

.    513 

Portrait  of  Francisco  Piznrro,   ...            .... 

520 

The  Inca  Alahualiia  before  Pizarro,        ...... 

.    501 

The  Cotigar,  found  in  North  and  South  America,  .... 

CIO 

I 


L- 


11 


INDIAN     RACES    OF     AMERICA. 


GENERAL    CHARACTERISTICS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

ORIGIN    OF   THE    NOllTII    AMERICAN    INDIANS — SOME    OF   THEIR 
GENERAL   CUSTOMS   AND   PECULIARITIES. 


I        • 


ulf, 


11       ^ 


Oi'r]  'JTsp  (p'jXXwv  j'SVi'i],  Totrfis  xai  avSpuv, 

"Like  leavea  on  trees  the  nice  of  man  is  found, 
Now  green  in  youtli,  now  witiieriiig  on  tlie  ground; 
Anotiier  race  tiie  following  spring  supplies." — Iliad. 

It  were  liir  easier  to  foretell  the  period  when  tlae  extinc- 
tion of  the  Indian  races  must  be  consummated,  and  to 
explain  the  causes  that  must  sooner  or  later  terminate  their 
national  existence,  tlian  to  trace  back  their  early  history. 

Even  a  succinct  account  of  the  various  theories,  with 
the  arguments  u\K>n  which  they  are  based,  as  to  the  prob- 
able sources  whence  the  early  inhabitants  of  the  Western 
hemisphere  derived  their  origin,  would  furnish  matter  for 
a  volume:  we  shall  therefore  do  little  more  than  allude 
to  the  dillerent  hypotheses  upon  the  subject,  leaving  tin 
reader  to  follow  up  the  inquiry,  if  his  inclination  so  move 
hiin,  by  the  examination  of  works  especially  devoted  to 
the  discussion  of  this  vexed  question. 

The  want  of  a  written  language  among  the  aborigines 
of  America;  the  blindness  of  the  system  of  hieroglyphics 
used  by  the  more  advanced  nations  of  the  continent;  and 
the  wild  discrepancies  in  their  fanciful  oral  traditions  leave 
U3  little  hope  of  satisfactorily  elucidating  the  mystery  by 


"■>. 


14 


INDIAN  liACKS  OF  AMERICA. 


any  direct  information  obtained  from  the  people  tliem 
solves.  Analogies  in  physical  conformation,  customs,  archi- 
tecture, language,  and  religion,  must  form  our  principal  clue 
in  deciding  the  question  of  their  origin. 

That  America  Avas  first  peopled  by  wanderers  from  the 
Old  World  seems  to  be  a  conclusion  to  which  most  of  those 
who  have  treated  on  the  subject  have  arrived.  Exclusive 
of  the  supposed  necessity  for  maintaining  the  truth  of  Sci'ip- 
tural  history  by  deducing  all  tlic  races  of  the  globe  from  a 
common  ancestry,  abundant  facilities  for  an  intentional  or 
casual  nn'gration  have  been  pointed  out  by  geogra]ihers. 

The  numberless  isles  of  the  Pacific  offer  readv  resting- 
])laccs  for  adventurous  or  bewildered  navigators,  and  might 
have  been  peopled  successively  l)y  wanderers  from  Sontli- 
eastern  Asia.  Some  of  the  natives  of  that  portion  of  the 
P'astern  continent  possess  a  skill  in  nautical  aftairs  wliich 
would  abundantly  qualify  them  for  voyages  as  haziardous 
as  any  to  which  they  would  be  exposed  in  crossing  tlie 
Pacific  from  island  to  island  in  th(}ir  swift  proas,  'flio 
near  approach  of  the  two  grand  divisions  of  the  globe  at 
Behriug's  Straits  presents  still  greater  facilities  for  a  pass- 
age from  one  to  the  other,  when  the  waters  are  closed  by 
ice,  during  the  severe  Northern  winter,  or  when  they  lie 
open,  affording  a  free  passage  for  caiHjcs. 

That  the  North-eastern  portions  of  America  were  visited 
and  probal)ly  peopled,  at  a  very  early  date,  by  adventurers 
from  the  North  of  Phirope  seems  to  be  fully  established. 
Man}'- Avild  and  imi^robable  legends  indeed  exist,  touching 
these  early  voyages,  and  we  can  sympathise  with  the  man- 
ner in  which  the  old  historian  of  Virginian  colonikiation 
dismisses  the  subject:  "For  tlie  stories  of  Arthur,  Malgo, 
and  Brandon,  that  say  a  thousand  yeares  agoe  they  were 
in  the  North  of  America,  or  tlie  Fryer  of  Linn,  that  by 
his  black  Art  went  to  the  North  Pole  in  the  yeare  13G0. 
In  that  I  know  them  not.     Let  this  suffice." 


I 


lie  them 
ms,  arclii- 
cipal  clue 

from  tlie 
it  of  those 
Kxclusiv'^ 
.1  of  Scrip- 
)be  from  a 
ntional  or 
rraphcrs. 
[j  rcsting- 
aud  might 
om  South- 
tiou  of  the 
■airs  ^vhich 
hazardous 
'ossiiig  the 
oas.     The 
le  globe  at 
or  a  pass- 
closed  hy 
leu  they  lie 

'ere  visited 
[venturers 

'stablishcd. 
touching 
the  nian- 

nloni/ation 

lur,  Mai  go, 
they  were 

in,  that  by 
eare  13G0. 


GENERAL  CHARACTERISTICS. 


15 


Modern  investigation  has  brought  to  light  abundant 
evidence  of  visits  by  the  Northmen  to  Greenland  and  the 
neigliboring  American  coast,  at  the  close  of  the  tenth 
and  in  the  beginning  of  the  eleventh  centuries,  and  it  is 
not  improbable  that  intercourse  had  subsisted  between  the 
two  countries  at  a  much  earlier  period.  The  marked  dif- 
ference between  the  Esquimaux  Indians  and  all  other 
tribes  of  the  Western  continent  points  plainly  to  a  separate 
ancestry.  "vVe  shall  speak  more  at  large  upon  this  subject 
when  we  come  to  treat  of  the  natives  of  that  vast  and 
desolate  region  lying  between  the  Canadas  and  the  frozen 
seas  of  the  North. 

Vague  accounts  of  islands  or  continents  at  the  West  are 
found  in  the  works  of  many  early  writers.  I^he  Athuitis 
of  Plato,  the  Ilesperides,  and  a  host  of  other  uncertain 
fables  have  been  tortured  by  ingenious  antiquaries  into 
2)roof  of  more  extensive  geographical  kiiowledge  than  is 
generally  attril)uted  to  the  ancients. 

Some  theorists  have  indcfatigably  followed  up  the  idea 
that  we  are  to  search  for  the  lost  tribes  of  Israel  amouf 

O 

the  red  men  of  America,  and  have  found  or  fancied  resem- 
blances, otherwise  unaccountable,  between  Indian  and  He- 
brew words,  ceremonies,  and  superstiticjus. 

Others  have  exhibited  equal  ingenuity  in  carrying  out 
a  comparison  between  the  Moors  of  Africa  and  the  iVmer- 
icans,  claiming  to  establish  a  near  aflinitv  in  character  and 
complexion  between  the  two  races.  Tliey  suppose  the 
Mooi'ish  immigrants  to  have  ariived  at  the  West  India 
Islands,  or  the  ilastern  coast  of  South  America,  and  thence 
to  have  spread  over  the  whole  continent. 

However  variant,  in  some  pai'ticulars,  the  diflerent 
nations  of  America  may  appear,  tlicre  are  peculiarities  of 
language  which  arc  noticeable  throughout  the  continent, 
and  which  would  seem  to  prove  that  neither  of  these 
nations  has  subsisted  in  an  entirelv  isolated  condition. 


iSfJ 


16 


INDIAN   RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


According  to  lliuuljoldt;  "In  America,  from  the  coun- 
try of  tlie  Esquinuiux;  to  tlic  banks  of  tlic  Oi'inoko,  and 
again,  from  those  torrid  banks  to  tlic  fro/eu  climate  of  the 
Straits  of  Magellan,  mother  tongues,  entirely  different  with 
regard  to  their  roots,  have,  if  we  may  use  the  expression, 
the  same  physiognomy.  Striking  analogies  of  grammat- 
ical construction  have  been  recognised,  not  only  in  the 
more  perfect  languages — as  that  of  the  Incas,  the  Ayniara, 
the  Guarani,  the  Mexican,  and  the  Cora,  but  also  in  Ian- 
Kuaires  extrcmelv  rude.  Idioms,  the  roots  of  which  do 
not  resemble  each  other  more  than  the  roots  of  the  Scla- 
vonian  and  liiseayan,  have  resemblances  of  internal  me- 
chanism similar  to  those  Avhich  are  found  in  the  Sanscrit, 
the  l\'rsian,  the  Greek,  and  the  (Jerman  languages." 

Of  the  pi'imary  roots  of  the  ditferent  Indian  dialects, 
it  is  said  that  there  arc  four  more  prominent  than  the  rest, 
and  which  can  be  traced  over  nearly  the  whole  continent. 
These  are  the  Karalit  or  Esrpiimaux,  the  Iroquois,  the 
Lcnni  Lenapc,  and  that  of  the  Chcrokees,  Choctaws,  and 
other  t  bes  of  the  South. 

Tlie  great  body  of  the  American  aborigines,  notwith- 
standing tlie  country  over  which  they  arc  distributed,  liavo 
many  loalures  of  physical  conformation  in  common.  Tlic 
exceplit)ns  to  this  general  truth,  exliibited  principally  in 
the  })ersons  of  the  Kscpiimaux,  and  in  certain  white  tribes 
at  the  West,  deserve  a  sei)arate  consideration:  at  present, 
our  remarks  will  be  confined  to  the  red  men,  and  particu- 
lai'ly  to  tliose  of  the  present  United  States  and  territories. 

Tlic  ap]X'llation  universally  bestow(Ml  U])on  this  people  is 
in  itself  a  strange  misnomer,  and  would  hardly  have  obtain- 
ed so  generally,  had  not  the  error  in  wliich  it  originated 
been  one  whieli  early  voyagers  were  slow  to  acknowledge. 

The  Americans  have,  indeed,  usurped  the  name  of  those 
for  whom  tlicy  were  so  long  mistaken,  and  whom  we  are 
now  reduced  to  distuinguish  by  the  title  of  East  Indians. 


of 


age 


tha: 

of  J 

1 

the 

oft 


Has 
— le.' 


GENERAL  CHARACTERISTICS. 


17 


nil 

ban  tlie  rest, 
Ic  continent.   1 
iroqvioiri,  tUo 
Loctaws,  and 

1C3,  notwith- 
•ibutcd,  have 
iiimon.     The 
H'inciptilly  in 
1  white  tribes 
i:  at  present,   j 
,  and  partieu-   , 
nd  territories, 
this  people  is 
y  have  t)btain- 
it  originated 
acknowledge, 
luune  of  those 
whom  we  are 
East  Indians. 


The  general  appearance  of  a  North  American  Indian 
can  be  given  in  few  words;  the  resemblance  between  those 
of  different  tribes — with  the  exceptions  to  which  we  have 
referred — being  full  as  close  as  between  different  nations 
of  either  of  the  great  families  into  which  the  human  race 
has  been  arbitrarily  divided.  They  are  about  of  the  aver- 
age height  which  man  attains  v/hen  his  form  is  not  cramped 
by  premature  or  excessive  lalor,  but  their  erect  posture 
and  slender  figure  give  them  the  appearance  of  a  tall  race. 
Their  limbs  are  well  formed,  but  calculated  rather  for  agility 
than  strength,  in  which  they  rarely  equal  the  mo"e  vigorous 
of  European  nations.    Tliey  generally  have  small  feet. 

The  most  distinguishing  peculiarities  of  the  race  are, 
the  reddish  or  copper  colour  of  the  skin;  the  prominence 
of  the  cheek-bone;  and  the  color  and  quality  of  the  hair. 
This  is  not  absolutely  straight,  but  somewhat  wavy,  and 
has  not  inaptly  been  com])ared  to  the  mane  of  the  horse 
— less  from  its  coarseness  than  from  its  glossy  hue  and  the 
manner  in  which  it  hangs.  Their  eyes  are  universally 
dark.  The  women  are  rather  short,  with  broader  faces, 
and  a  greater  tendency  to  obesity  than  the  men,  but  many 
of  them  possess  a  symmetrical  figure,  with  an  agreeable 
and  attractive  countenance. 

It  was  formerly  quite  a  general  impression  that  the 
Indians  were  destitute  of  beards.  This  error  resulted 
from  the  almost  universal  custom  prevalent  among  them 
of  eradicating  what  they  esteemed  a  deformity.  Tweezers, 
made  of  wood  or  muscle-shells,  served  to  pluck  oiit  the 
hairs  as  soon  as  they  appeared ;  and,  after  intercourse  with 
the  whites  commenced,  a  coil  of  spiral  wire  was  applied  to 
the  same  use.  It  was  esteemed  greatly  becoming  among 
the  men,  to  carry  this  operation  still  farther,  and  to  lay 
bare  the  whole  head,  with  the  exception  of  a  top-knot, 
or  ridge  like  the  comb  of  a  cock,  in  which  feathers  or  por- 
cupine quills  were  ftvntastically  interwoven. 
2 


m 


I 


m 


ligi 


18 


INDIAN   RACES  OP  AMEKICA. 


Of  the  liidcous  custom  of  flattening  the  heail,  and  the 
means  by  which  it  was  accoiiiphshcd,  we  shall  speak 
when  describing  the  tribes  among  whom  it  was  pi-actised. 

No  nations  on  the  Eastern  (!ontinent  approach  so  nearly  to 
the  American  Indians,  in  bodily  conformation,  as  do  certain 
tribes  of  Tartars.  A  similarity  in  habits  of  life,  in  dress, 
festivals,  and  games,  is  also  (observable  between  the  two 
nations.  This,  combined  with  the  proximity  of  their  coun- 
tries, and  the  ease  with  which  a  passage  could  be  effected, 
woidd  seem  to  afford  a  rational  presumption  as  to  the  direct 
origin  of  no  small  })ortion  of  the  red  tribes  of  North  Amer- 
ica. Who  can  undertake  to  decide,  however,  as  to  what 
admixture  of  races  has  here  taken  ])lace,  or  how  often 
fresh  arrivals,  from  dilferent  portions  of  Eastern  Asia, 
have  given  rise  to  new  colonies,  or  desti'oyed  by  amal- 
gamation, the  distinctive  characteristics  of  the  earlier  peo- 
ple? Above  all,  can  we  account  for  the  wonderful  remains 
of  anticpiity  describe(l  in  another  chapter,  by  n^ferring 
them  to  tlie  same  races  as  were  foimd  inhabiting  these 
wilds  when  the  white  man  first  ventured  to  ex])lore  them? 

The  difficulty  of  the  subject  is  sufficiently  manifest  from 
the  contradictory  conclusions  drawn  by  laborious  but  dog- 
matic anti(piaries;  and  still  more  by  the  doubt  and  unc(U'-  " 
tainty  in  which  more  candid  but  e(|ually  diligent  labonu's 
in  the  same  field  have  confessed  their  researches  to  have 
resulted. 

There  have  not  been  wanting  those  who  have  main- 
tained the  theory  that  the  Indians  were  indigenous  to 
Am(!rica.  Some  who  have  adoj)ted  this  idea  consider  that 
it  involves  the  doctrine  of  a  separate  creation,  while  others, 
that  they  might  not  discard  the  ordinarily  received  opin- 
ion that  all  mankind  have  sprung  from  a  single  pair,  place 
the  seat  of  paradise  somewhere  upon  the  Western  Con- 
tinent, and  consider  the  ICastern  nations  as  descendants  of 
emigrants  from  America. 


GENERAL  CHARACTERISTICS, 


19 


,  and  tlie 
,11  si)(jak 
)nictiscd. 
nearly  to 
lo  certain 
,  in  dress, 
I  the  two 
heir  eoun- 
c  effected, 
the  direct 
rth  Anicr- 
as  to  what 
how  often 
torn  Asia, 
I  by  amal- 
3arlier  peo- 
fill  remains 
V  n.'ferring 
liting  these 
)l()re  them? 
mifest  from 
us  but  dog- 
and  uncer- 
:!Ut  laborers 
les  to  have 


have  niahi- 
ligeuous  to 
onsider  that 
,vhile  others, 
scived  opin- 
e  pair,  place 
Tcstern  Con- 
seendants  of 


Ilowever  interesting  these  speculations  may  prove  to 
the  antiquary,  they  must  appear  siin^iy  wearisome  to  the 
reader  who  is  not  willing  to  give  tlie  subject  a  full  inves- 
tigation. I'he  two  hemispheres  remained  sundered  for  so 
long  a  jieriod,  that  the  history  of  their  former  connection  by 
intercourse  of  their  respective  inhabitants  is  now  reduced 
to  little  more  than  speculation;  and  we  will  pass  to  mat- 
ters of  which  wc  can  speak  with  certainty,  and  which 
appeal  more  closely  to  our  sympathies,  and  attract  our 
attention  with  more  lively  interest  than  such  groping  amid 
the  dim  relics  of  antiquity. 


A  knowledge  of  the  habits  and  peculiarities  of  the 
Indians  can  be  acquired  in  the  most  pleasing  manner  by 
the  perusal  of  their  history,  inters[)ersed  as  it  is  with  the 
quaint  descrijitions  of  old  chroniclers,  who  wrote  when  the 
events  and  scenes  were  vividly  impressed  vipon  their  minds, 
and  before  modern  refinements  had  done  away  with  that 
directness  of  expression  which   marks   their   narratives. 

Such  details  make,  moreover,  a  far  stronger  impression 
upon  the  memory  than  can  be  effected  by  a  series  of  drv 
generalities.  We  shall  therefore  refer  the  reader  to  the 
historical  portion  of  this  work  for  most  of  the  information 
which  we  shall  attempt  to  convey. 

In  this,  and  in  the  ensuing  chapter,  wc  may  frequently 
speak  of  usages  and  characteristics,  as  belonging  to  a  past 
age,  which  are  still  to  be  observed  among  the  more  remote 
Western  tribes.  The  difficulty  of  always  drawing  the 
distinction  in  a  series  of  such  general  remarks  as  are  here 
submitted,  must  form  our  excuse  for  such  seeming  ana- 
chronisms. 

We  notice  in  the  Indian  a  remarkable  gravity  and 
innate  dignity  which  leads  him  to  avoid,  with  the  most 


ui 


I 


I  m 


f 


20 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


scrupulous  care,  all  involuntary  or  impulsive  expression 
of  his  feelings.  This  is  not  confniud  to  the  oeeasions 
upon  which  he  calls  forth  his  powers  of  endurancn  in  suf- 
fering the  niost  cruel  torments  with  jipjiarent  insensibility 
or  even  with  exultation,  but  enters  into  all  the  acts  of  his 
daily  life,  lie  betrays  no  unseemly  curiosity  or  inij)a- 
ticnee  under  circumstances  that  would  naturally  exeite 
both  in  the  highest  degree,  lias  he  been  long  absent 
from  home  on  a  war-])ath,  or  on  a  visit  to  cities  of  the 
whites;  has  he  learned  some  great  and  threatening  dan- 
ger, Of  has  the  intelligence  reached  him  of  the  death  of 
those  whom  he  most  values;  his  conduct  and  meth(jd  of 
(.•ommunicating  his  adventures  or  his  infoJination,  are 
governed  by  the  same  deliberation  and  immobility. 

Returning  half  famished  from  an  unsuccessful  hunt,  he 
enters  his  wigwam,  and  sits  down  uncpiestioned,  showing 
i\o  symptom  of  impatience  for  food.  His  wife  prepares 
his  refreshment,  and  after  smoking  his  pipe,  and  satisfying 
his  hunger,  he  volunteers  an  account  of  his  (experience. 
Catlin  gives  a  striking  description  of  the  meeting  betwtjcn 
a  chief  named  Wi-jun-jon,  who  had  Just  returned  from  an 
embassy  to  Wjushington,  and  his  family,  lie  landed  from 
the  steamer  at  his  home  in  the  far  West,  "with  a  com- 
plete suit  en  onilitairc,  a  colonel's  luiiform  of  blue,  pre- 
sented to  him  by  the  president  of  the  United  States,  with 
a  beaver  hat  and  feather,  with  epaulettes  of  gold — with 
sash  and  belt,  and  broadsword ;  with  high-heeled  boots — 
with  a  keg  of  whiskey  under  his  arm,  and  a  blue  umbrella 
in  liis  hand.  In  this  plight  and  metamorphose,  he  took 
his  position  on  the  bank  amongst  his  friends — his  wife 
and  other  relations;  not  one  of  whom  exhibited,  for  an 
half  hour  or  more,  the  least  symptoms  of  recognition, 
although  they  knew  well  who  was  before  them."  The 
conduct  of  the  chief  was  of  the  same  character,  but,  half 
an  hour  afterwards,  "a  gradual,  but  cold  and  exceedingly 


\Bi 


j"'i ., 


OENKUAL  CHARACTERISTICS. 


21 


prcsaion 

>cciisit)U3 

;r(  in  Suf- 

nisibiVity 
;ts  of  his 
or  iTn])a- 
ly  excite 
\ir  absent 
ics  of  tlio 
uing  (Ian- 
.  death  of 
method  of 
lilt  ion,  are 
lity. 

\\  hunt,  he 
d,  showing 
e  prepares 
1  satislying 
experience, 
iig  between 
led  ironi  an 
anded  from 
rith  a  com- 
'  \)lue,  pre- 
States,  with 
roXil — with 
!led  boots — 
uc  \imbrelhi, 
f)se,  he  took 
lis — his  wife 
jited,  for  an 
recognition, 
Lhem."     The 
ter,  but,  half 
exceedingly 


formal  recognition  began  to  take  place,"  after  which,  all 
went  on  as  if  he  had  never  been  absent. — Tliis  strange 
demeanor  does  not,  by  any  means,  result  from  real  indif- 
ference, but  from  the  supposed  propriety  of  su})pressing 
any  ()ut})rcak  of  emotion.  No  doubt  all  the  parties  to 
the  seene  above  descrilxvl,  were  in  a  state  of  tiie  greatest 
curiosity  and  excitement,  and  the  family  doubtless  felt 
the  most  exuberant  joy  at  the  reunion;  but  custom,  or 
their  ideas  of  good  taste,  prohibited  the  exhibition  of  a 
"seene."  Those  who  are  best  aciiuainted  with  the  char- 
a(!ter  of  the  Indians  agree  that  with  them  the  tics  of  fam- 
ily allection  are  exceed! ngh*  strong  and  enduring.  The 
most  touching  descrij)ti()ns  are  given  of  the  manner  in 
■which  they  mourn  for  the  dead,  and  of  the  tender  and 
faithful  remembrance  of  lost  relatives  that  no  length  of 
time  seems  to  obliterate.  Carver  says,  "I  can  assert  that, 
notwithstanding  the  ajipareiit  indill'erence  Avith  which  an 
Indian  meets  his  wife  and  children  after  a  long  absence, 
an  indifference  proceeding  rather  from  custom  than  insen- 
sibility, he  is  not  immindful  of  the  claims  either  of  con- 
nubial or  })arental  tenderness." 

The  same  author  who  had  witnessed  the  most  bloody 
and  savage  scenes  of  Indian  warfare,  and  who  was  familiar 
with  the  cruelties  and  unrelenting  spirit  of  revenge  peculiar 
to  the  race,  candidly  bears  witness  to  their  good  qualities: 

"No  people,"  he  says,  "can  be  more  hospitable,  kind, 


and  free 


The  honor  of  their  tribe  and  the 


welfare  of  their  nation  is  the  first  and  most  predominant 
emotion  of  their  hearts;  and  from  hence  proceed  in  a  great 
measure  all  their  virtues  and  their  vices.  *  *  ^ 
No  selfish  views  ever  influence  their  advice  or  obstruct 
their  consultations.  *  *  They  are  at  once  guided 
by  pa&sious  and  appetites,  which  they  hold  in  common 
"with  the  fiercest  beasts  that  inhabit  their  woods,  and  are 
possessed  of  virtues  which  do  honor  to  human  nature." 


I 


«: 


(if' 

I 


22 


IXDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


The  Tiidinns  aro  natiiriilly  tucituni,  but  fond  of  sot 
S|H:r('hi'S.  'I'licir  oratory  is  of  no  inciui  onlcr,  and  is  <lis- 
tiiijiiiishcd  I'or  a  [titliiiu'ss,  a  ([uaiiitiicss,  iuid  occasionally  a 
vein  of  dry  sarcaHin,  Avliicili  havo  never  liccii  surpassed. 
Wo  havo  speciiiRMis  of  some  of  tlioir  orations,  upon  ^v.xt 
occasions,  wliich  arc  niodc^lsof  stirrinjjf  clo<iMcncc,  adorned 
witli  metaphors  and  similes  which  breathe  tlie  true  s[)irit 
of  poctiy. 

The  most  ploasin<^  traits  in  the  character  of  tliesc  strango 
})co])le  an;  their  reverence  for  age,  tlieir  aft'ection  for  their 
chil(b-en,  f'  'irlii^^li  notions  of  honor,  and  their  keen  sense 
of  jiistit:e.  ^IMie  <freat  sii^ma  upon  tlie  wliole  ra(!e  is  tlu'ir 
deliberate  and  systematic  cruelty  in  tlie  treatment  of  caj)- 
tives.  It  is  liard  to  account  for  this,  but  it  reallv  app(>ars, 
upon  investigation,  to  be  rather  a  national  custom,  gratlu- 
ally  reaching  a  climax,  than  to  havo  arisen  from  any  innate 
h)ve  of  inflicting  ])ain.  It  is  perfectly  certain  that,  if  the 
children  of  tlic  most  cidightoncd  nation  on  earth  should  Ijo 
brought  up  in  occasional  familiarity  with  scenes  like  those 
witnessed  at  the  execution  of  a  prisoner  by  the  American 
savages,  they  would  experience  no  liorror  at  the  sight. 
"We  need  not  seek  fartlier  than  the  liistory  of  religious  and 
political  persecutions  in  Kuroi)e,  or  the  cruelties  practised 
on  repute(l  witches  in  our  own  country,  to  satisfy  us  that 
the  character  of  the  Indians  will  sulfcr  Uttle  by  compari- 
son with  that  of  tlieir  contemporaries  of  our  own  race. 

Among  some  of  those  nations  which  included  an  ex- 
tensive confederacy,  where  a  .system  of  government  had 
become  settled  by  usage,  and  the  authority  of  the  cliief 
had  been  strengthened  by  long  submission  to  him  and  hi.s 
predecessors,  an  arbitrary  monareliy  seems  to  have  pre- 
vailtid;  but  among  the  smaller  tribes,  the  authority  of  the 
chief  was  ratlier  advisory  than  absolute.  There  was  gen- 
erally a  king  who  held  hereditary  office,  and  exercised 
the  powers  of  a  civil  governor  by  virtue  of  his  descent, 


'7 

4 


OKVKllAI.   C'FIAIIACTKIMSTICS. 


28 


1  of   sot 

11(1  irt  (liM- 

<i()ii;illy  11 

[)o»  ^rv.it 
,  atlonu'd 
true  spirit 

se  strange 
X  for  their 
ceon  snnse 
icc  is  tlieir 
'lit  of  caji- 
ly  uitpears, 
:)m,  fi;rii<lu- 
aiiy  iniKitc 
that,  if  tho 
1  should  ho 
sliko  tlioso 
^  Aiuericau 
the  si^ht. 
ihgious  ami 
s  ])ractised 
isfy  ns  that 
)y  coiapari- 
wii  raoe. 
ded  an  ex- 
-nrncnt  had 
)f  the  ehief 
ini  and  his 
)  have  pre- 
lority  of  tho 
!rc  was  gen- 
d  exereised 
his  descent, 


wliilc  to  h'ad  the  warriors  in  haltlc,  the  bravest,  most 
redouht('(l,  and  sagaeious  of  the  tribe  was  elected.  Tlieao 
two  chief  ofTicea  wore  not  nnfrecpiently  nnitcd  in  the 
same  jhtsoii,  wlien  tlu^  lawful  sachem,  from  a  spirit  of 
emulation  or  from  natural  advantages,  showed  hinis(>lf 
worthy  of  the  jiosition. 

All  matters  of  national  interest  were  discussed  at  a  sol- 
emn conn(!il,  consisting  of  the  princii)al  men  of  the  tribe, 
and  at  which  great  decorum  and  formality  were  observed. 
As  the  debate  procecdi'd,  the  whole  conclave,  whenever 
a  remark  from  the  orator  speaking  <>X(>ited  th(>ir  appro- 
bation, would  give  expression  to  their  approval  by  a  gut- 
tural ejaculation. 

A  natural  instinct  of  retributive  justice  ordaineil  that 
the  crime  of  murder  slioidd  be  ])unishod  by  the  hand  of 
the  deceased  person's  nearest  relative.  An  interesting 
incident,  connected  with  this  custoiu,  is  told  in  a  notice  of 
the  ])ublic  lil'c  of  the  TTon.  Pierre  A  P(^st,  of  TiOuisiana, 
given  in  the  Fnited  States  Law  ^faga/,inc,  for  ^farch,  lSr)2. 
He  is  here  said  to  have  been  the  fir.st  to  suggest  the  pro- 
]u-iety  of  interference  in  these  matters  on  the  part  of  tho 
State  Courts.  In  a  drunken  fray,  an  Indian  had  been 
accidentally  killeil.  "Tho  relatives  of  the  deceased  wore 
absent  at  the  time;  but  they  soon  heard  of  his  death,  and 
came  from  the  Indian  territory  to  exact  blood  for  l)lood 
from  th(^  homicide.  Tic  was  advised  to  flee,  but  would 
not,  and.  in  blind  submission  to  the  law  of  the  red  man, 
agreed  to  deliver  himself  on  a  certain  day  to  be  .shot. 
The  Tourt  was  then  sitting,  and  ^fr.  Ro.st  proposed  to  the 
presiding  judge  to  prevent  the  horrid  sacrifice,  by  giving 
the  victim  a  fair  trial  by  jury,  many  membci-s  of  which 
were  known  and  respected  by  the  relatives  of  the  deceased, 
and  impressing  u])on  the  latter  the  necessity  of  abiding 
by  tho  verdict,  whatever  it  might  be."  This  was  done, 
and  everv  thing  was  conducted  with  due  form  and  solemn- 

4.  CJ 


24 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


ity.  The  Indian  witnesses  gave  tlic  most  satisfactory 
answers  when  questioned  as  to  tlieir  ideas  of  the  obliga- 
tion of  an  oath,  and,  after  a  full  hearing,  the  defendant 
was  acquitted.  The  decision  was  translated  to  the  com- 
plainants, and  they  were  told  that  to  kill  the  prisoner 
would  now  he  murder,  and  would  subject  them  to  the 
penalties  of  that  crime, 

"^fr.  Eost  then  rose,  and  stated  to  the  Court  that  the 
prosecutors  had  left  their  hunting-ground  to  come  and 
avenge  the  death  of  their  relative,  as  it  was  their  duty  to 
do;  that  justice  had  been  done  to  the  accused,  but  that 
was  not  sufficient.  Justice  must  also  bo  done  to  the  other 
side;  they  must  be  indemnified  for  the  inconvenience  they 
had  been  put  to,  and  the  loss  they  had  sustained ;  and,  as 
the  coffers  of  the  treasury  would  not  uidock  at  the  bidding 
of  his  honor,  he  moved  that  the  bar,  jury,  and  by-stand- 
ers,  contribute  a  sufficient  amount  to  satisfv  them.  This 
was  done  as  soon  as  proposed,  and  the  ])rosccutors  declared 
themselves  satisfied," 

The  institution  of  marriage  among  the  American  Indians 
is  by  no  means  so  restrictive  a  system  as  that  adopted  by 
enlightened  nations.  It  is  for  the  most  part  di.«soluble  at 
the  ^  Icasure  of  the  parties,  and  polygamy  is  extensively 
practised.  As  with  other  l)arbarous  nations,  tlio  woman 
is  conqx'llcd  to  undergo  the  drudgery  of  daily  labor, 
wliili>  her  loid  and  master  lounges  indolently  about  the 
villfige,  except  at  times  when  his  energies  are  called  forth 
for  hunting  or  war.  When  once  engaged  in  tlicse  pur- 
suits, his  fixedness  of  purpose,  and  the  readiness  with 
which  he  will  undergo  the  extremes  of  toil,  exposure, 
hunger,  and  privation,  is  marvellous. 


^ 


I XI)  I 


tisfactory 
G  obliga- 
Icfendant 
the  corn- 
prisoner 
im  to  the 

-,  that  the 
come  and 
ih'  duty  to 
.,  but  that 
I  the  other 
icucc  they 
d;  and,  as 
he  bidding 
I  by-stand- 
cm.     This 
rs  dcchired 


an  Indians 
il(>]-)tcd  by 
swAuble  at 
xtcnsivcly 
:li(i  Avoman 
ally  hd)or, 

about  the 
alk'd  forth 

tlu^sc  pur- 
linet^s  with 

exposure, 


i 


a  >'i 


i.\i)t.KV  nil  ly  .1X1)   .lumnys.   n.mruojv,   pot,  4-c. 


"^ 


i  •  .11 


^ 

-* 


^«a 


i 


N  ?  1 


/.//)/.'» A"    rt/M.I  H.l  UK,     KF.TTI.E,     SI'OO.V,     PIPKS,    *e. 


fear ; 


PIPES,    SfC. 


GENERAL  CIIARACTEniSTICS.  25 


CHAPTER  II. 

RELIGION    OF    THE     INDIANS — THEIR     WEAPONS,    AND    SYSTEM    OF 
WARFARE — THEIR    LODGINGS,    DRESS,    ORNAMENTS,    ETC. 

"Yet  simple  nature  to  liifi  hope  has  given, 
Behind  the  cloud-topp'd  hill  an  humbler  heaven; 
Some  safer  world,  in  depths  of  woods  embraced. 
Some  happier  island  in  the  watery  waste." — Pope. 

The  Indians,  before  receiving  instruction  from  Euro- 
peans, generally  believed  in  the  existence  of  a  Supreme 
Deity,  embodying  a  principle  of  universal  benevolence, 
and  that  to  him  their  gratitude  was  due  for  all  natural 
benefits. 

On  the  other  hand,  they  stood  in  fear  of  a  spirit  of  evil, 
whose  influence  upon  human  affairs  they  considered  as 
being  more  direct  and  familiar.  To  this  being,  known 
among  many  tribes  as  Ilobaniocko,  much  more  assiduous 
devotion  was  paid  than  to  the  Great  Spirit,  it  being  fiir 
more  essential  in  their  view  to  dejDrecate  the  wrath  of  a 
terrible  enemy,  than  to  seek  the  favor  of  one  already 
perfectly  well  disposed  towards  his  creatures.  Besides 
these  two  superior  deities,  a  sort  of  fanciful  mythology, 
not  unlike  that  of  many  ancient  Eastern  nations,  invested 
every  notable  object  with  its  tutelary  divinity,  and  bestowed 
on  each  individual  his  guardian  spirit. 

A  general  idea  that  tlie  good  would  be  rewarded,  and 
the  bad  punished,  was  entertained.  Far  away  to  the  warm 
South-west,  a  pleasant  land  was  fabled,  in  which  the  hunter, 
after  death,  should  pursue  his  favorite  emi)loyment,  in  the 
midst  of  abundance,  and  a  stranger  for  ever  to  want  or 

fear; 

"Where  everlasting  Autumn  lies 
On  yellow  woods  and  sunny  skies." 


y 


26 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


Their  lieaven  was  as  far  removed  from  the  sensual  para- 
dise of  the  Mahometans,  as  from  the  pure  abstractions  of 
an  enlightened  religion.  Ease,  comfort,  and  a  sufficiency 
for  the  natural  wants,  seemed  all-sufficient  to  these  simple 
children  of  nature,  to  render  an  eternity  delightful. 

The  description  handed  down  to  us  of  the  Indian  pow- 
wows or  conjurers,  and  their  medicine-men,  derive  an 
additional  piquancy  and  interest  from  the  fact,  that  those 
who  detail  them  were  generally  as  superstitious  as  the 
poor  natives  themselves.  We  might  cite  pages  in  which 
the  necromantic  performances  of  the  red  men  are  spoken 
of  witli  all  the  2)ious  horror  that  would  naturally  be  excited 
by  what  were  considered  the  direct  operations  of  the  devil, 
as  displayed  in  the  works  df  his  children.  Winslow, 
taking  occasion  to  explain  the  meaning  of  the  word  "Pan- 
iese,"  often  applied  to  notable  warriors  in  New  England, 
says,  "The  Panieses  are  men  of  gi'cat  courage  and  wis- 
dome,  and  to  these  also  tlic  deuill  appcareth  more  famili- 
arly than  to  others,  and,  as  wo  conceiue,  maketh  couenant 
with  them  to  prcserue  them  from  death  by  wounds  with 
arrowes,  knives,  hatchets,  &c." 

The  works  of  the  learnea  divine.  Cotton  Mather,  are 
filled  with  similar  extravagancies. 

These  powwows,  says  Gookin,  "are  partly  wizards  and 
witches,  holding  familiarity  with  Satan,  that  evil  one;  and 
partly  arc  physicians,  and  make  use,  at  least  in  show,  of 
herbs  and  roots  for  curing  the  sick  and  diseased.  These 
are  sent  for  by  the  sick  and  wounded ;  and  by  their  dia- 
bolical spells,  mutterings,  exorcisms,  they  seem  to  do  won- 
ders. They  use  extraordinary  strange  motions  of  their 
bodies,  insomuch  that  they  sweat  until  they  foam;  and 
thus  they  continue  for  some  hours  together,  stroking  and 
hovering  over  the  sick. — These  powwows  are  reputed, 
and  I  conceive  justly,  to  hold  familiarit}'-  with  the  devil." 

Wherever  the  Indians  have  enjoyed  free  intercourse 


glue 


M0 


'-1 


GENERAL  CnARACTERISTICS. 


27 


sual  para- 
iu;tions  of 
mfficicncy 
ese  simple 
tful. 

idian  pow- 
dcrive  an 
tliat  those 
ous  as  the 
!S  in  which 
ivrc  spoken 
^  be  excited 
)f  the  devil, 
Winslow, 
ivord  "Pan- 
w  England, 
TO  and  wis- 
nore  famili- 
th  couenant 
rounds  with 

Mather,  are 

wi:?;ards  and 
ril  one;  and 
in  show,  of 
ised.     These 
jy  their  dia- 
n  to  do  won- 
:)ns  of  their 
foam;  and 
stroking  and 
are  reputed, 
the  devil." 
intercourse 


:i 


with  the  whites,  they  have  been  no  less  eager  to  adopt 
than   apt  to  acquire  the  use  of  their  more   efficacious 
weapons.     It  is  of  the  primitive  instruments  for  offence 
or  defence  that  we  shall  now  speak.     Scattered  over  the 
whole  country,  even  at  the  present  day,  small  triangular 
bits  of  wrought  flint,  quartz,  or  other  stone  are  turned  up 
by  the  plough,  or  seen  lying  on  the  surface  of  the  ground. 
These  arrow-heads,  with  occasionally  one  of  a  larger  size, 
which  might  have  served  for  a  lance,  a  stone  tomahawk, 
a  rude  pestle,  or  the  fragment  of  a  bowl  of  the  same  mate- 
rial, constitute  almost  the  only  marks  now  visible,  in  the 
thickly  settled  Eastern  states,  of  the  race  that  formerly 
inhabited  them.     The  opening  of  a  tomb  sometimes  brings 
to  light  other  relics,  and  various  specimens  of  native  art 
have  been  preserved  among  us  from  generation  to  gen- 
eration, as  curious  relics  of  antiquity ;  but  until  we  arrive 
at  the  Western  tumuli,  (commencing  at  the  state  of  New 
York)  we  find  but  slight  impressions  upon  soil  at  the 
hands  of  the  red  men,  and  the  few  and  simple  articles  to 
which  we  have  alluded,  constitute  the  most  important  pro- 
ductions of  their  skill,  except  those  formed  from  a  perish- 
able material. 

How  the  arrow  and  lancf^  heads  could  have  been  attached 
with  any  degree  of  firmness  to  the  wood,  seems  almost 
incomprehensible.  Captain  Smith  describes  a  species  of 
glue  which  assisted  in  accomplishing  this  object,  but  the 
shank  or  portion  of  the  stone  that  entered  the  wood  is  in 
some  of  the  specimens  so  short  and  ill  defined,  that  it  seems 
impossible  that  it  should  have  been  held  firm  in  its  place 
by  such  means.  The  arrow-heads  were  chipped  into  shape, 
presenting  something  the  same  surface  as  a  gun-flint,  while 
the  tomahawks  and  pestles,  being  of  a  less  intractable 
material,  were  ground  smooth,  and  some  of  them  were 
highly  polished.  A  handle  was  commonly  affixed  to  the 
"tom-hog"  or  tomahawk  by  inserting  it  in  a  split  sapling, 


o> 


28 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


and  waiting  f()r  the  wood  to  grow  firmly  around  it;  after 
which,  it  was  cut  o(l'  at  the  requisite  length. 

The  Indian  bow  was  shorter  than  tliat  formerly  used  in 
England,  and  was  so  stiff  as  to  require  great  strength  or 
skill  to  bend  it.  It  became  a  much  more  effective  weapon 
after  the  introduction  of  steel  or  iron  arrow-heads,  which 
quickly  superseded  those  of  stone.  Clubs,  sometimes 
armed  with  flints,  with  the  bow  and  tomahawk,  constitute 
the  principal  weapon  of  the  race.  Daggers  of  flint  or 
bone,  and  shields  of  buflixlo-hide,  were  in  use  among  some 
of  the  AVcstern  tribes. 

Divided  into  innumerable  petty  nations,  nearly  the  whole 
Indian  ])opulation  lived  in  a  state  of  insecurity,  from  the 
constant  hostilitj^  which  prevailed  between  different  tribes. 
So  strong  a  clannish  spirit  as  they  all  exhibited  has  seldom 
been  noticed  in  any  country,  and  the  bitterest  hatred  was 
inherited  l)y  every  individual  towards  the  members  of  an 
unfriendly  tribe.  War,  as  in  most  nations,  whether  bar- 
barous or  enlightened,  was  ever  esteemed  the  most  honor- 
able emjiloyment.  The  manner  in  which  hostilities  were 
conducted  will  appear  by  a  detail  of  some  of  the  more 
noted  Indian  wars,  as  given  in  the  ensuing  chapters  of  this 
work.  The  whole  was  a  system  of  stratagem  and  surprise ; 
a  pitched  battle  in  an  open  field  was  almost  unknown,  and 
greater  honor  was  ascribed  to  the  chief  who,  by  a  night 
attack,  destroyed  his  enemies  at  a  disadvantage,  and 
brought  away  their  scalps  in  triumph,  without  loss  to  his 
own  people,  than  to  deeds  involving  the  greatest  personal 
exposure.  The  remorseless  cruelty  with  which  women 
and  cliildren  were  destroyed  in  the  heat  of  conflicjt,  has 
furnished  a  theme  for  many  a  tale  of  horror. 

Previous  to  a  declaration  of  war  against  another  tribe, 
the  chief  men  and  councillors  of  the  nation  were  in  the 
habit  of  holding  solemn  consultations,  accompanied  by 
numerous  fantastic  ceremonies.    When  fully  resolved  upon 


indignil 


i 


dit;  after 

•ly  used  in 
trciigtU  or 
vc  woapon 
ads,  which 
soinctimcs 
,  constitute 
of  Hint  or 
inong  some 

y  the  whole 
y,  from  the 
.>rcnt  tribes, 
has  seldom 
hatred  was 
nhers  of  an 
ihether  bar- 
iiost  honor- 
tilities  were 
)f  the  more 
otcrs  of  this 
nd  surprise ; 
known,  and 
,  by  a  night 
intage,    and 
it  loss  to  his 
est  personal 
lich  Avomen 
conflict,  has 

lother  tribe, 
were  in  the 
npanied  by 
isolved  upon 


GENERAL  CHARACTERISTICS. 


29 


hostilities,  the  first  step  was  to  secure  the  assistance  of  as 
many  of  the  neighboring  tribes  as  possible,  for  which 
purjjose  ambassadors  were  sent,  to  set  forth  the  advantages 
of  the  union,  and  to  cement  a  treaty  by  exchange  of  wam- 
pum. When  all  was  ready,  a  hatchet  or  other  weapon, 
painted  red,  was  sent  as  an  intimation  to  the  enemy  of 
what  was  in  store.  We  arc  told  that  the  reception  of  this 
ominous  token,  frequently  excited  such  rage  in  the  minds 
of  those  to  whom  it  was  sent ;  "that  in  the  first  transports  of 
their  fury,  a  small  party  of  them  would  issue  forth,  with- 
out waiting  for  permission  from  the  elder  chiefs,  and,  slay- 
ing the  first  of  the  offbnding  nation  they  met,  cut  open  the 
body,  and  stick  a  hatchet,  of  the  same  kind  as  that  they 
had  just  received,  into  the  heart  of  their  slaughtered  foe." 

When,  weary  with  the  war,  either  party  desired  to  ter- 
minate hostilities,  the  message  was  sent  under  the  protect- 
ive influence  of  the  calumet,  or  pipe  of  peace,  which,  like 
a  flag  of  truce  among  other  nations,  every  where  secured 
the  person  of  those  who  bore  it.  This  pipe,  so  widely 
celebrated,  and  of  such  universal  use,  was  most  elaborately 
carved  and  bedecked.  Each  nation  had  its  own  peculiar 
style  of  ornament  for  this  all-important  symbol,  which 
vvas  known  to  all  the  neighboring  tribes,  A  solemn  and 
ceremonious  smoking  of  the  calumet,  formed  the  token  of 
ratification  to  every  treaty.  When  used  at  the  conclusion 
of  a  peace,  the  painted  hatchet  was  buried  in  the  ground, 
and  belts  of  wampum,  so  figured  and  arranged  as  to  com- 
memorate the  essential  articles  of  the  pacific  agreement, 
Were  presented,  to  be  kept  as  a  perpetual  memorial. 

The  treatment  of  captives  exhibited  the  opposite  ex- 
tremes of  cruelty  and  kindness.  Greatly  to  the  credit  of 
the  race,  it  was  observed  that,  in  most  instances,  white 
women  who  fell  into  their  hands  met  with  no  outrage  or 
indignity.  They  were  generally  kindly  treated,  and  every 
respect  was  paid  to  their  feelings.     The  men  taken  prison. 


I 


""^ 


f;» 


^'1 

"ill 


i;'i 


?!!• 


80 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


ers  of  war,  were  either  adopted  to  supply  the  ])lace  of  those 
who  liad  fallen  in  battle, — in  which  case  they  were  to 
undertake  all  the  responsibilities,  and  were  entitled  to  all 
the  privileges  of  the  one  in  Avhose  place  they  stood, — or 
they  were  sulemnly  devoted  to  death,  by  the  most  refined 
and  cruel  torments  that  diabolical  ingenuity  could  devise. 
On  such  occasions,  all  his  native  powers  of  stoical  endu- 
rance were  called  forth  on  the  part  of  the  doomed  wan  lor. 
When  told  what  was  the  fate  before  him,  he  would  briefly 
express  his  satisliiction ;  and  when  led  to  the  stake,  and  sub- 
jected to  every  torture,  by  fire  and  mutilation,  he  would 
maintain  a  ])roud  composure,  recounting  his  exploits,  and 
the  injuries  which  he  had  inflicted  upon  his  tormentors 
in  former  battles,  taunting  them  with  their  unskilfidness 
in  the  art,  and  describing  the  superior  manner  in  which 
he  and  his  friends  had  tortured  their  relatives.  Not  nnfre- 
quently  thf.  rcge  of  the  surrounding  company  would  be 
so  excited  by  these  expressions  of  contempt,  and  by  their 
inability  to  break  tlie  warrior's  spirit,  that  some  of  them 
would  rush  upon  him,  and  dispatch  him  at  once  by  a  blow 
of  the  tomahawk. 


The  habitations  and  clothing  of  the  Indians  varied 
greatly  with  the  temperature  of  the  climate.  In  the  warm 
regions  of  the  South,  a  slight  covering  proved  sufficient, 
while  to  resist  the  severity  of  a  New  England  winter  very 
efficient  precautions  were  taken.  The  usual  manner  of 
building  their  wigwams,  was  by  fixing  a  row  of  poles 
firmly  in  the  ground,  in  the  form  of  a  circle,  and  then 
bending  and  confining  the  tops  together  in  the  center.  A 
hole  was  left  for  the  smoke  of  the  fire  to  escape,  at  the 
top  of  the  cabin;  every  other  part  being  warmly  and 
closely  covered  with  matting.    A  tight  screen  hung  over 


Lce  of  those 
;y  were  to 
titled  to  sill 

stood, — or 
lost  refined 
)uld  devise, 
toical  endu- 
led  warrior, 
ould  briefly 
ke,  and  svib- 
n,  lie  would 
xploits,  and 

tormentors 
mskilfulness 
ler  in  which 
Not  nnfre- 
ly  would  be 
and  by  their 
3ine  of  them 
ce  by  a  blow 


lians  varied 
In  the  warm 
ed  sufficient, 
L  winter  very 
,1  manner  of 
row  of  poles 
jle,  and  then 
le  center.  A 
escape,  at  the 
warmly  and 
jn  hung  over 


GENERAL  CIIAKACTERISTICS. 


81 


the  doorway,  which  was  raised  when  any  one  entered,  and 
then  allowed  to  fall  into  its  place. 

A  species  of  matting  was  pre{)arcd  by  peeling  the  bark 
from  trees,  and  subjeeting  it,  packed  in  layers,  to  a  heavy 
pressure.  With  this  material,  or  with  nuits  woven  from 
rushes,  &c.,  the  walls  of  the  huts  were  so  closely  thatched, 
as  to  efreetually  resist  wind  and  weather. 

Some  of  these  wigwams  were  of  great  size,  being  from 
fifty  CO  a  hundred  feet  in  length,  but  the  generality  were 
of  dimensions  suitable  to  a  single  family.  Their  bedding 
consisted  of  mattresses  disposed  in  bunks  attached  to  the 
walls,  or  upon  low  movable  couches.  Bear  and  deer  skins 
furnished  a<lditional  covering.  Their  other  furniture  and 
lumseliold  utensils  were  simple  in  the  extreme.  Clay  or 
earthern  pots,  wooden  platters,  bowls  and  spoons,  and  pails 
ingeniously  lashioned  of  birch  bark,  served  their  purpose 
for  cookery  and  the  table.  They  were  skilled  in  basket- 
making. 

In  many  of  their  towns  and  villages,  the  wigwams  were 
set  in  orderly  rows,  with  an  open  s])aee  or  court  near  the 
centre;  while  the  whole  was  surrounded  by  a  strong  pali- 
sade, having  but  one  or  two  narrow  entrances.  For  spir- 
ited descriptions  and  sketches  of  the  modern  Indian  towns 
of  the  extreme  West,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  valuable 
works  of  Mr.  George  Catlin.  In  many  respects  it  will  be 
perceived  that  old  customs  are  still  observed. 

The  clothing  of  the  Indians  consisted  mostly  of  skins, 
dressed  with,  no  little  skill.  Leggins  of  deer  skins,  with  a 
hand's  breadth  of  the  material  hanging  loose  at  the  side 
scam,  and  often  highly  ornamented  with  fringe  and 
embroidery;  moccasins  of  buck,  elk,  or  buffalo  skin;  and 
a  garment  of  various  ftishion,  from  a  simple  cincture  about 
the  loins,  to  a  warm  and  ornamental  mantle  or  coat,  com- 
pleted the  equipment  of  the  men. 

Very  rarely,  even  in  our  own  times,  do  we  find  Indians 


■111 

m 


1' 


M 


82 


INDIAN  llACKH  OF  AMEUICA. 


who  iiro  williii;^'  to  suhtiiil  to  llic  rcstraiiiiiij^  und  iiicoii" 
vc'iiiciit  (livss  (•('  till!  whites.  'l'h<'y  huvi!  iihviiys  boi'ii 
accustoiiuHl  to  loiivo  tliu  thi;^h  hiirc,  ami  ubout  tlio  iiot-k 
thoy  can  (Mi(hiro  noiio  of  tlic  clumsy  mid  (lisugrcM-'uhlc 
hiiiidiigcs  IV.  sucli  uiiiviTsul  use  miioii;.^  civili/cd  nations. 
"'I'hosc  will)  wear  shirts,"  say.s  Carver,  "never  mak(!  tliem 
fast,  either  at  llio  wrist  or  colhir;  tliis  would  be  u  most 
insnlTerable  confinement  to  them." 

The  women  wore  a  sliort  frock,  reaching  to  the  knees; 
their  covering  for  the  legs  and  feet  were  similar  to  tiiat 
worn  1)y  the  men.  Tn  some  jiortions  of  the  country,  very 
beautiful  specimens  of  ornanuMital  mantles,  covered  with 
neatly-arranged  feathers,  were  seen  and  described  by  early 
writers.  Cohered  porcupine  quills  were  in  general  use, 
both  for  stitching  and  ornamenting  the  clothing  and  other 
ecpiipments  of  the  Indian. 

A  fondness  for  gay  colors  and  gaudy  ornaments  has 
ever  been  consj)icuous  in  the  whole  race.  From  p(K!on(! 
and  other  roots,  a  brilliant  red  paint  or  dye  was  pn-pareil, 
with  which  and  with  other  pigments — as  charcoal,  earths, 
and  extracts  from  the  barks  of  certain  ti  H'S — they  painted 
their  l)odies,  in  did'erent  styles,  eitluir  U  ake  a  terrible 
impression  on  their  enemies,  or  simply  to  ')edeek  themselves 
in  a  becoming  manner  in  the  eyes  of  tlieir  friends.  U'he 
usual  savage  custom  of  wearing  pendants  at  the  cars  was 
common.  The  cartilage  wa.s  frequently  stretched  and 
enlarged  by  weights,  and  by  winding  it  with  brass  wire, 
until  it  nearly  reached  the  shoulder.  Tattooing  was  i)rac- 
tised  by  some  nations,  but  not  so  systematically,  or  to  so 
great  an  extent  as  has  been  observed  among  the  savages 
of  warmer  climates,  where  little  clothing  is  worn. 

One  of  the  most  noted  species  of  ornament,  which 
answered  all  the  purjiose  of  a  circulating  medium  among 
the  Eastern  Indians,  was  wampixm.  This  consisted  of 
small  circular  bits  of  sea-shell,  smoothly  ground  and  pol- 


the  1 1 
iish, 
maize 
land 
and  ci 
of  tlui 
Were 
who  I 


GKNKIIAF,  CITAIIACTKHISTICS. 


88 


islicd,  witli  ii  hole  drillitl  tlir<ni;4li  tin'  ci'iitro  of  t'!U'}i,  by 
wliicli  it  niiglit  be  stniti;^',  or  iittiii'hcd  onumu'iitully  to  tlio 
bi'lt  or  other  parts  of  the  drt'ss.  'I'ho  "tiii!i-h(><<"  or  roiiml 
cliiiii  ruriiislicd  tlio  )>riii('i|>id  miiti-riiil  lor  tliw  coin,  the 
Viiric;j!itt'il  purplt'  |ioitioiis  of  the  .slifU  hrlw^  iiiucli  tlio 
most  vidu!il)U'.  Tbr  "•reut  lubor  in  jiri'ii;iriii<^  it,  was  the 
boriiij^',  uiiich  was  elVected  by  a  nharp  Hint.  Whni  we 
<;oiisider  tlie  shjw  nature  of  such  a  j)rocess,  we  can  scareo 
credit  the  accounts  given  ol'  th(!  iinnicnsi'  <(uantitics  of 
wampum  that  were  })rocured  by  tiie  wliite  colt)nists,  wliiie 
it  retained  its  value,  in  exehan;i:e  for  Munipean  commodities, 
or  which  were  exacted  as  tribute,  in  atonement  for  nutionul 
o  Hen  CCS. 

"The  wompompeaguc,"  says  Gookin,  "is  mailc  princi- 
pally by  the  Block  Islanders  and  Ji(jng  Island  Indians. 
I'jion  the  sandy  flats  anil  shores  of  those  coasts  the  wilk 
shells  are  Hnuid.  With  this  womponqieagut;  they  pay 
tribute,  redeem  captives,  satisfy  for  murders  and  other 
wrongs,  purchase  peace  with  theii'  jjotcnt  neighbors,  as 
occasion  reipiires;  in  a  word,  it  smswers  all  occasions  with 
them,  as  gold  and  silver  dcth  with  us.  They  delight  much 
in  having  and  using  knives,  eond)S,  scissors,  hatchets,  hoes, 
guns,  needles,  awls,  looking-glasses  and  such  like  necessa- 
ries Avhieh  they  purchase  of  the  Knglish  and  Dutch  with 
their  pcagne,  and  then  sell  them  their  peltry  for  their 
wompeague." 

The  principal  articles  of  food  used  by  the  aborigines  of 
the  present  United  States,  were  the  ])roducts  of  the  chase, 
lish,  beans,  some  species  of  squashes  and  pumpkins,  and 
maize  or  Indian  Cqru.  Wild  rice,  growing  in  rich  wet 
land  in  the  interior  of  tlio  coimtry,  furnished  a  wholesome 
and  easily  gathered  supply  of  farinaceous  food  to  the  tribes 
of  the  tcm})erate  portion  of  the  United  States.  Shell  fish 
were  a  very  important  addition  to  the  resources  of  those 
who  dwelt  near  the  sea-coast,  and  in  the  interior,  various 


34 


INDIAN  EACES  OF  AMERICA. 


.'<f   't 


,%~l 


*•  V'\ 


"Kl 


species  of  wild  roots,  and  C(!r1aiii  nuti'itioiis  bark  supplied 
the  failure  of  the  cidtivatcd  crop,  and  furnished  the  means 
to  eke  out  a  subsistence  when  the  hunt  was  unsuccessful 
or  the  last  year's  stoi'cs  had  been  consumed  before  the  sea- 
son of  harvest. 

To  eHect  a  clearing,  and  to  secure  a  crop  with  such  rude 
implements  of  stone  as  they  possessed,  apjiears  to  us  almost 
an  impracticable  undertaking;  but  we  are  assured,  by  early 
writers,  that  tliey  obtained  as  large  a  yield  from  a  given 
spot  of  gTOund  as  can  be  produced  by  the  assistance  of 
all  modern  conveniences  and  contrivances.  Two  dishes, 
greatly  in  vogue  among  the  Indians,  have  maintained  their 
])()pularity  among  their  European  successors.  Green  corn, 
the  ripening  of  which  was  celebrated  by  a  national  dance, 
is  sought  as  eagerly  as  when  it  supplied  a  grateful  refresh- 
ment to  tlie  red  men,  emaciated,  as  Smith  describes  them, 
b^f  the  Spring  diet  of  fish  and  roots,  A  preparation, 
denominated  "Succotash,"  consisting  of  maize,  boiled  with 
beans,  and  flavored  with  fut  bear's  meat,  or  fish,  still 
remains  (with  the  substitution  of  pork  for  wild  nn-ats)  a 
favorite  dish  in  New  England.  Carver  says  that,  as  ])re- 
pared  in'  the  natives,  it  was  "beyond  comparison  delicious." 

It  is  singular  that  the  use  of  milk  should  have  been 
entircdy  unknown  before  the  advent  of  the  whites,  although 
there  were  various  animals  in  the  country  from  which  it 
might  have  been  procured.  This  fact  ha;-:  been  adduced 
as  a  strong  argument  against  the  hyjtothesis,  that  immi- 
grants from  the  nomadic  tribes  of  Tartary  have  mingled 
with  the  red  race  in  comparatively  modern  times.  If  the 
ferocity  or  wildness  of  the  buffalo,  deer,  or  elk,  had  at 
first  seemed  to  render  their  domestication  impracticable, 
yet  it  is  not  probable  that  so  imjiortant  an  article  of  sub- 
sistence Avould  have  been  not  only  disused,  but  entirely 
forgotten,  until  many  generations  had  passed  away. 

With  the  foregoing  brief  sketch  of  some  of  the  more 


"*?*^ 


supplied 
he  means 
mcccsrtful 
■e  the  sea- 

siicli  rude 
us  almost 
i,  by  early 
1  a  given 
i  stance  of 
,vo  dishes, 
lined  tlieir 
I'een  corn, 
nal  (lance, 
'ul  rei'resli- 
■ibes  tliem, 
reparation, 
joiled\vith 
•  fish,  still 

I  meats)  a 
at,  as  ]>n>- 
delicions." 
lavc  been 

although 

II  which  it 
n  adduced 
that  inimi- 
ro  mingled 
ics.  If  the 
■Ik,  had  at 
n-aeticable, 
cle  of  sub- 
ut  entirely 
way. 

f  the  more 


GENERAL  CHARACTERISTICS. 


35 


marked  Indian  traits  and  peculiarities,  we  will  dismiss  this 
portion  of  our  subject;  and,  dealing  no  more  in  generalities, 
jn-oceed  to  take  up  the  history  of  various  tribes  and  nations, 
somewhat  in  the  order  of  the  dates  of  their  first  intercourse 
with  Europeans.  AVe  need  make  no  apology  for  tho 
omission  of  man}^  minor  clans,  or  for  avoiding  that  par- 
ticularity, in  tho  delineation  of  private  character,  v\diich 
belongs  rather  to  biography  than  to  general  history. 


.-f  t^•J,.^m•■]a^ 


,.^ :;- 


If  "  ' '« 
If  ^r^' 
1 1  '■■  "111,' 


•hi 


AMERICAxN   Ax\TIQUITIES. 


CIIAPTKU  I. 

UNITED    STATES    TKKUITOIIY,    ETC. 

"But  what  are.  These,  still  standinnf  in  tlie  midst? 
The  Earth  lias  roeked  heiieatii;  the  Tiiiiiuler-stoiio 
Passed  thronirh  and  throtiirh,  and  left  its  traces  tiiere, 
Yet  still  they  stiind  as  by  some  Unknown  Charter! 
Oh,  they  are  Nature's  own!  and,  as  allied 
To  the  vast  ilountaiiis  and  the  eternal  Sea, 
They  want  no  written  history;  theirs  a  voiee 
For  ever  speakinir  to  the  heart  of  ]\[anl" — 11(k;f.i:s. 

In  tlic  absence  of  any  written  record  of  tlio.se  numerous 
races  Avliicli  formerly  peopled  tliis  liemisi)liere,  information 
must  be  sought  in  their  monuments,  and  in  the  disinterred 
relics  of  their  ancient  m;inner  of  life.  These,  consideriiiir 
the  almost  unbroken  wilderness  which  presented  itself 
to  the  first  white  adventurers,  are  surjn-isingly  numerous. 
They  indicate  the  former  existence  of  jiopidous  nations, 
excelling  in  many  of  the  arts  of  civilization,  and  capal)le, 
by  their  numbers  and  combination,  of  executing  the  most 
gigantic  works  for  religion,  ])ublic  defence,  and  commem- 
oration of  the  dead.  Such  rcHcs,  though,  for  the  most  piirl, 
not  immediately  pertaining  to  the  history  of  the  Indian 
ti'ibes,  have  su])})ortcd  the  conjectures  advanced  by  Ilum- 
b(/ldt  and  other  t'liiinent  cobmogra])]iers,  that  these  races  are 
but  the  dwindled  and  degraded  remains  of  once  flourishing 
and  poj)vdous  nations.  The  retrograde  process  to  which 
certain  forms  of  incomplete  civilization  a})i)ear  doomed,  has 


.id 


)iie 

liere, 

ter! 

F.liS.                        ' 

numerous 

.formation 

Usinterrcd 

:>nsulei-ing 

ited  itself 

numerous. 

IS  mitions, 

d  capable, 

If  tlie  most 

.  commeni- 

1 

most  i)nrV, 

tlie  Indian 

1 

1  by  llum- 

sc  races  are 

(lourisliiii.ij; 

■(s  to  Avliirh 

oomed,  luis 

AMERICAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


87 


perliajis  been  most  strikingly  exemplified  in  the  difference 
to  be  discovered  between  tlie  feeble  and  scattered  tribes 
of  the  red  r:.je,  and  those  powerful  and  populous  com- 
munities who  occupied  the  soil  before  them. 

The  relics  of  the  former  people,  usually  discovered  on  or 
slightly  beneath  the  surface  of  the  ground,  arc  of  a  rude 
and  simple  character,  differing  little  from  the  specimens 
common  among  their  descendants  of  the  prcseiit  day. 
The  flint  arrow-head,  chipped  painfully  into  shape — the 
stone  tomahawk,  knife,  and  chisel — the  pipe,  the  rude  pot- 
tery and  savage  ornaments,  are  their  only  relics;  and  these 
diflbr  but  little  from  the  same  articles  still  fabricated  by 
tucir  successors. 

Except  among  the  Esquimaux,  who  occasionally  use 
stone,  and  who  avail  themselves  of  the  arch  and  dome 
in  the  construction  of  their  snow  huts,  nothing  like  regular 
architecture  can  be  assigned  to  the  late  or  modern  tribes 
occupying  this  continent  northward  of  Mexico.  The 
Indian  tumuli,  or  mounds  of  burial,  are  generally  small 
and  of  p'mple  construction.  It  has,  however,  been  ration- 
ally supposed  that  the  force  of  religious  custom,  surviving 
art  and  civilization,  has  preserved  to  the  red  tribes  tliis 
characteristic  method  of  their  forefathers;  and  that  the 
rude  barrows,  which  they  still  erect,  are  but  the  puny  and 
dwindled  descendants  of  those  mighty  mounds  and  ter- 
raced pyramids  which  still  rear  their  lieads  from  tin;  isth- 
mus to  th'^  lakes,  and  from  the  shores  of  Florida  to  the 
Mexican  Cordilleras. 

The  origin  of  these  and  of  other  unquestionably  ancient 
remains,  is  to  the  antiquarian  a  question  of  the  most  lively 
and  perplexing  interest.  Here,  in  unknown  ages  and  for 
unknown  periods,  have  existt'd  wealth,  ])ower,  and  civil- 
ization ;  yet  the  remains  by  which  these  are  indipated  seem 
to  furnish  but  a  slight  clue  to  the  cpocli  and  hi.-story  of 
their  long-vanished  constructors.    Within  the  mounds  and 


38 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


■-■,;(" 
,   IP 

•  h 


■'II'- 


r    It" 


mural  embankments  scattered  tlirongh  a  large  portion  of 
this  country,  arc  found  tlic  remains  of  liigli  meolianical 
and  scientilic  art.  Pottery,  the  most  fragile  of  man's 
works,  3'et  almost  indestructible  by  time,  still  remains  in 
large  quantities  and  in  good  preservation.  In  tlie  com- 
position and  ».«jloring  of  these  articles,  mucli  chemical  skill 
is  evinced;  wh'lo  in  many  cases,  their  grace  of  forui  and 
perfection  of  imisli  rival  tlie  remains  of  Grecian  or  I'^rus- 
can  art.  Some  of  these  ^ancient  vessels  arc  of  innnense 
size;  one,  disinterred  from  a  Western  mound,  being  eight- 
een feet  in  length  by  six  in  breadth.  (Jlass  beads  of  rare 
and  elaborate  construction  have  been  Ibnnd;  stone  orna- 
ments, skilfully  wrought,  and  brick,  much  resembling 
that  in  modern  use,  have  been  often  discovered. 

Metallic  ren^ains  arc  frequent.  Copper,  used  both  for 
weapons  and  for  ornament,  has  often  been  found,  and  occa- 
sionally specimens,  plated  with  silver,  have  been  disinter- 
red. At  an  ancient  mound  in  Marietta,  a  silver  cup 
finely  gilt  on  the  inside,  was  exposed  to  view  In'  the  wash- 
ing of  a  stream.  It  has  been  often  questioned  whether 
the  use  of  iron  was  known  to  these  aboriginal  races;  but 
except  the  occasional  2iresence  of  rust  in  the  excavations, 
little  has  been  ascertained  with  certainty— the  perishable 
nature  of  that  metal  peculiarly  exjiosmg  it  to  the  destroy- 
ing influence  of  time  and  dam})ness. 

Inscriptions  upon  rocks,  mosdy  of  a  hieroglyphic  char- 
acter, f.re  niimcrous;  and  on  the  walls  of  several  caverns 
in  the  west,  some  extratjrdinary  specimens  may  be  seen. 
In  the  same  gloomy  receptacles  have  been  found  lunnbers 
of  a  species  of  mummy,  most  carefully  pre[)ared,  and 
beautifully  covered  with  colored  f(>ath(!rs,  synunetrically 
arrangetL  Stone  colhns  and  liurial  urns  of  great  beauty 
have  also  been  disinhumed  from  the  Western  mounds. 


Th 


lie 


AMElilCAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


89 


Drtion  of 
x'luvnical 
rf  man's 
MuaiuB  in 
tlic  com- 
lieal  skill 
form  and 
or  Etrus- 
immensG 
ing  ciglit- 
1h!  of  rare 
;onc  orna- 
escinbling 

I  Loth  for 
and  occa- 

II  disintov- 
silvcr  cup 
,•  tluMvasli- 
(1  whether 
races;  but 
sccavations, 

perishable 
he  destroy- 

yphic  cliar- 
ral  caverns 
ay  be  seen. 
\(\  numbers 
'panMl,  and 
inmctrically 
reat  beauty 
wiounds. 


MOUNDS    AND    FORTIFICATIONS. 

«*         *         *         *         An- tlii'y  litTc — 

Tiie  (k'iul  of  other  d.iys? — And  did  the  dust 

Of  tlii'sc  t':ur  solitudes  once  stli'  with  life, 

And  burn  with  passion? — Let  tlie  iniylity  mounds 

That  overiooli  the  rivers,  or  that  rise 

In  tile  dim  forest,  crowded  witii  old  oaks, 

Answer.     A  race  that  lonjr  has  passed  away 

Built  tliein:  a  diseiiilitu'd  and  ]iopulous  raee 

Heaped,  wilh  long  toil,  the  earth,  while  yet  the  Greek 

Was  hewing  the  I'eiitelieus  to  forms 

Of  symmetry,  and  rearing  on  its  roek 

The  glittering  Parthenon.     These  ainpUt  fields 

Nourished  their  harvests;  here  their  herds  were  led, 

When  haply  by  their  stalls  the  bison  lowed, 

And  bowed  his  maned  shoulder  to  the  yoke." 

Bkyant. 

The  mural  remains,  in  the  United  States  alone,  are  of 
almost  incredible  number,  and  of  most  imposing  magnitude. 
It  has  been  asserted  by  an  accurate  western  antiquarian — 
"1  should  iu)t  exaggerate  if  I  were  to  say  that  more  than 
five  thousajid  might  be  fcnmd,  some  of  them  enelusing 
more  than  a  hundred  acres."  The  mounds  and  tumuli, 
he  renuii-ks,  are  far  more  numerous.  Professor  Hannesipie 
asi'ei'tained  the  existence  (>f  more  than  live  hinidred  ant'ient 
monniniMils  in  Kentucky  alone,  and  lliurteen  hundred  in 
other  slates,  mi>st  of  which  he  had  personally  examined. 
Tliese  remains  appear  most  numerous  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  Mississip])i  and  its  tributaries,  and  near  the  great  lakes 
and  the  rivers  which  flow  into  tliein.  A  striking  jiroof 
of  their  immense  anticpiity  is  to  be  Cound  in  the  fact  that 
the  latter  stand  upon  the  ancient  margin  of  ihe  lukes,  from 
which,  in  some  immemorial  age,  their  waters  are  known 
to  have  receded. 

It  is  remarkable  that  these  peculiar  works  of  antiquity 
touch  the  ocean  only  in  Florida  at  the  southern  extremity 


a' 

■I 


■iO 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA, 


■v 


of  the  Atlantic  coast;  aivl  ilu'ir  iircater  number  and  mag- 
nitude in  the  soutli  ami  west  sei-ms  to  fortify  the  su])j)osi- 
tion  tliat  their  founders  came  originalfy  from  Mexico,  and 
were,  ijerhajDS,  a  people  identical  with  the  builders  of  Cho- 
lula  and  Teotihuacan. 

The  extent  of  some  of  those  works  is  extraordinary. 
In  New  York,  (where  at  least  a  hundred  of  theni  have  been 
survej'cd)  in  the  county  of  Onondaga,  formerly  existed 
the  remains  of  a  fortilieation  enclosing  more  than  five 
hundred  acres.  Three  ciivular  forts,  disposed  as  a  trian- 
gle, and  situated  about  eight  miles  distant  from  each  other, 
served  as  its  outwjrks.  In  many  of  these  fortilied  places, 
considerable  military  skill  is  evinced;  angles,  bastions, 
and  curtains,  being  frequently  tniceablc.  "Though  much 
defaced  by  tiiUe,"  says  a  traveller,  of  the  entrenchments 
near  lake  Pei)in,  "every  angle  was  distinguishable,  and 
n[ipeared  as  regvdar,  and  fashioned  Avitli  as  much  military 
skill,  as  if  jilanncd  l>y  Vauban  himself" 

Some  of  the  most  remarkable  of  tliese  works  have  been 
discovered  "i  Georgia.  On  the  banks  of  the  Little  River, 
near  Wrigh  ftorough,  are  found  the  renmantfi  of  "a  stu- 
pendous conical  pyramid,  vast  tetragon  terraces,  and  a 
larfc  sunken  oi  excavated  area  of  a  cubical  form,  encom- 
passed  with  banks  of  earth,  an<l  also  the  remains  of  an 
extensive  town."  Other  and  similar  structures  occur  in 
the  same  region.  On  the  Savannah,  among  other  extensive 
remains,  is  a  conical  mound,  truncaleil,  fifty  feet  in  height, 
and  eight  hundred  in  circumference  at  its  base.  In  other 
portions  of  the  same  region  are  found  excavations,  and 
vast  quadrangular  terraces.  Florida  abounds  in  vestiges 
of  a  similar  nature. 

At  the  west,  these  remains  assume  a  much  more  perma- 
iK'nt  and  imjiosing  cliaractcr.  On  a  branch  of  the  Musk- 
ingum river,  in  Ohio,  u  series  of  entrenchments  and  mounds, 
two  miles  in  length,  and  of  great  solidity  of  structure,  is 


I        .!;• 


AMERICAN  ANTIQUITIKS. 


41 


and  mag- 
!  su})j)osi- 
5xico,  and 
rs  of  Cho- 

lordinary. 
have  bceu 
ly  existed 
than  live 
IS  a  truin-    ; 

I 

•nch  other,  j 
ied  i[)hiees, 
,  bastions, 
lUgh  mucli 
enchnnMils 
hable,  and 
•h  military 

have  lieen 
ttle  Eiver, 
of  "a  stu- 
pes, and  a 
ni,  eneom- 
iiins  of  an 
s  oecnr  in 
r  extensive 
in  heiglit,    j 
In  otlier    j 
it  ions,  and    p 
in  vestiges    li 

l' 
lore  pernia-    j 

tlie  Mnsk-    | 

nd  nionnds,    j 

(tnu'tnre,  is    ; 


found  to  exist.  In  Lieldng  county,  a  most  extensive  range 
of  fortifications,  embracing  or  jirotecting  an  extent  of  sev- 
eral miles,  has  been  traced. 

At  Circleville,  in  the  same  state,  were  found  two  exten- 
sive earthen  enclosures,  one  an  exact  circle,  and  the  other 
a  correct  square,  corresponding  precisely  to  the  cardinal 
points  of  the  compass;  and  a  mound  ninety  feet  in  height. 
In  most  of  these  and  other  similar  ruins,  stone  was  used, 
though  to  a  limited  extent.  Parallel  walls,  communicating 
with  the  Avater,  sometimes  at  a  distance  of  several  miles, 
arc  features  common  to  many  of  these  strue-turcs.  Parther 
west,  the  extensive  use  of  brick  in  constructing  similar 
edifices  has  been  ascertained;  and  an  arched  sewer,  con- 
structed of  stone,  indicates  a  knowledge  of  architecture  far 
superior  to  that  possessed  by  most  semi-civilized  nations. 

In  Missouri,  and  other  regions  of  the  west,  the  remains 
of  stone  buildings  have  been  frequently  discovered — in 
one  instance,  those  of  a  town,  regularly  laid  out  in  streets 
and  squares.  Upon  the  Missouri  and  Arkansas  rivers, 
some  of  the  most  extensive  fortilied  works  are  found.  In 
one  of  these,  on  the  latter  river,  are  two  innnense  mounds, 
truncated,  each  eighty  feet  high,  and  one  thousand  in  cir- 
cumference at  the  base. 

These  gigantic  mounds  are  among  the  most  interesting 
and  thickly  scattered  relics  of  the  vanished  races.  Many 
of  them  are  tumuli,  or  sepulchres  of  the  dead,  others  were 
connected  with  the  defensive  fortiiications,  and  others,  of 
the  grandest  and  most  imposiuf  aspect,  were  ]n-o])ably  huge 
altars  of  idolatrous  worship).*  In  general,  these  ancient 
mounds  may  be  distinguished  from  those  of  the  Indians 
by  their  greater  size,  and  still  more  certainly  by  the  nature 
of  their  contents.  Some  of  these  latter  have  already  been 
described.     Besides  utensils  of  lead,  silver,  and  copper,  the 

*  Tlic  nsu;il  matcrijil  employed  in  tlieir  construction  is  earth,  tlioucrh 
occasionally  they  have  been  built  of  stone. 


42 


INDIAN  RACKS  OF  AMERICA. 


oxydi/ed  rcniaius  of  iron  luive  been  lound.  Mica  niirrora 
of  various  si/Cf»,  with  a  variety  of  marine  shells,  are  among 
the  deposits. 

The  practice  of  burning  the  dead  ajipears  to  have  been 
coiunion.  Classes  of  ashes  and  ehareoal  ;ire  often  found 
mixeil  with  incinerated  bones.  In  Fairlicld  county,  Ohio, 
a  huge  earthern-ware  eahlron,  placed  upon  a  furnace,  was 
disinterred.  It  was  eightciMi  feet  long  by  six  liroad;  and 
contained  the  skeletons  of  twelve  jiersons,  besides  various 
articles,  which  had  been  buried  with  theui.  'I'iiey  were 
in  a  large  mound,  fifteen  leet  below  the  surlaci;  of  the  earth. 

In  tlie  great  mound  at  Cireleviile,  an  innnense  number 
of  skeletons  were  found,  all  kiid  witli  their  heads  toward 
the  centi'e. 

hi  Illinois,  nearly  opposite  St.  TiOuis,  within  the  circuit 
of  a  few  miles,  are  more  than  an  hundred  and  fifty  mounds, 
some  of  extraordinary  size.  Oiu;  of  them,  lormri'ly  occu- 
pied by  monks  of  the  Order  of  La  Trajipe,  is  niiH'ty  feet 
in  height  and  nearly  half  a  mile  in  ciivutiiKronc(\  it  is 
a  remarkable  ciivumstaiice  that  the  soil  of  whit'h  these 
huire  cones  are  constructed,  must  occasionallv  have  been 
brought  from  a  great  distance.*  The  occasional  exist- 
ence of  teri'aijes  or  stages  of  ascent  would  seem  to  indi- 
cate a  similarity  of  cji'igin  with  the  pyramidal  structures 
of  ^Mexico. 

Indeed,  it  is  dillicult  to  snppo.-.')  that  the  authors  of  tliese 
extensive  remains  could  have  had  other  than  a  south-west- 
ern origin.  All  are  ancient  in  the  extreme;  yet  })r(jbably 
they  were  erected  by  succ(>ssive  I'aces,  and  the  most  ven- 
erable antiquity  seems  attached  to  the  forest-covered 
mounds  of  the  West. 

Mr.  Bra(ll(jrd,  in  his  interes;."  ,'  Researches  into  the  Ori- 
gin of  the  lied  liace,  (from  wmch  many  of  the  foregoing 

*  Many  others  ot'crroat  sizis  varyiiif^  s(miL'\vl;:»t  in  f()rm,yetull  evincing 
a  striding  similarity  in  construction,  might  lie  ili  scribed. 


J 


m 


AMKinCAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


43 


;a  mirrors 
.re  among   i 

lavc  boon 
ten  found 
nty,  Ohio, 
•ntu'i^  was 
roiid;  ami 
cs  various 
Micy  were 
'  tlie  earth. 
;<;  uuiiilu'r 
(Is  toward 

the  circuit 
,y  mounds, 
iicrly  oi'cu-    1 1 
iiiiu'ty  feet    jj 
lice.      It  is 
liich  these    || 
liave  been    J 
onal  exist- 
Ill  to  iiidi- 
struetures 

f  >rs  of  these  . 

south-west-  ' 

'1  j)r(ji)al)ly  j 

most  veu-  j 

■e.<t-covered    j 

i 

nto  the  On-    ' 
e  foregoing   | 

yotiillcviiR'ing    j 


facts  have  been  drawn,)  ad(ipts  with  safi'ty  the  folli)wing 
conchisions  in  regard  to  the  ancient  occupants  of  our  soil. 

1.  "That  they  were  all  of  the  same  origin,  branches  of 
the  same  j-ace,  and  p(xsses.scd  of  similar  customs  and  insti- 
tutions. 

2.  '"J'hat  they  were  jiopulous,  and  occupied  a  gri-at 
extent  of  territory. 

'S.  "That  they  had  arrived  at  a  con.siderablc  degree  of 
civil i/at ion,  were  associated  in  large  communities,  and  Jived 
in  extensive  cities. 

4.  "That  they  possessed  the  use  of  many  of  the  metals, 
such  as  lead,  copper,  gold,  and  silver,  and  probably  the 
art  of  working  in  them. 

o.  "That  they  sculptured,  in  stone,  and  sometimes  used 
that  material  in  tlie  construction  of  their  cdilices. 

(').  '^I'iiat  they  had  the  knowledge  of  the  arch  of  receding 
ste[)s;  id'the  art  of  ]H)ttery, — producing  nrns  and  ntensiltj 
formed  with  ta.ste,  and  constructed  upon  the  princijiles  of 
chemical  composition;  and  of  the  art  of  brick-making. 

7.  "  That  tiiey  worked  the  salt  springs,  and  manufactured 
that  substance. 

8.  "That  they -were  an  agricultural  people,  living  under 
till'  inllueiiee  and  protection  of  regular  fornisdf  government. 

!>.  "Tiiat  they  possessed  a  decided  system  of  rehgion, 
and  a  mythology  connected  with  astronomy,  Avhich,  Avith 
its  sister  science,  geometry,  was  in  the  hands  of  the 
pric'-Uiood. 

10.  "That  they  were  skilled  in  the  art  of  fortification. 

11.  "That  the  epoch  of  their  original  settlement,  in  the 
United  States,  is  of  great  antiquity;  and. 

Lastly,  "That  the  only  indications  of  their  origin,  to  be 
gathered  from  the  locality  of  their  ruined  monuments, 
point  toward  Mexico." 


tf^^l 


u 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMKHICA. 


CHAPTER    II. 


ANTUIUITIES   OF    MKXICO,    ETC. 


"Tlii'V  >*1mii(1  Ix'twi'cii  till'  moimtiiins  and  the  sea; 
Awful  iiit'iiKirials,  Imt  of  wliimi  we  know  not! 
— Tinii!  WMs  tlicy  stood  idonf^  tlio,  crowded  street, 
lVnij)le.s  of  (Joils!" — RotiKUS. 

Tiii<:  Sontli-wostorn  rogions  of  Nortli  Antorio.'i  prosiMit  a 
most  extensive  and  interestingiieldfbr  antiijuariaii  researeli. 
Tlic  long-continued  existence  of  powei'ful,  civili/ed,  and 
po])iilous  races  is  fully  pi'ovcd  by  the  occurrence  of  almost 
innumerable  ruins  and  national  relies.  Kven  in  tlu'  six- 
teenth century,  tlie  S})anisli  invaders  found  these  re.Lfions 
in  the  possession  of  a  highly-])r(jsjKM'ous  and  ])artiall_v 
civilized  people.  Government  and  social  institutions  were 
upon  that  lirm  and  well-denned  l>asis  wliieli  betokcnrd 
long  continuance  and  strong  national  sentiment.  Jn  many 
of  the  arts  and  sciences,  the  subjugated  races  Avere  equal, 
and  in  others  superior,  to  their  Christian  conquerors. 
Their  public  ediliees  and  internal  improvements  were  on 
as  high  a  scale,  and  of  as  scientilic  a  character,  as  those 
of  most  European  nations  of  the  day. 

The  fanatical  zeal  of  Cortex  and  his  successors  destroyed 
invaluable  records  of  their  history  and  nationality;  and 
many  of  their  most  sjjlendid  ediliees  fell  beflire  the  ravages 
of  war  and  bigotry;  yet  numerous  structures  still  exist, 
though  in  ruins,  attesting  the  art  and  industry  of  their 
founders.  iVramids,  in  great  numbers,  still  rear  their 
terraced  and  truncated  surliutes  through  tlie  land,  in  the 
first  fury  of  the  conquest,  the  great  Teoealli,  or  Temple 
of  the  city  of  ^lexico,  was  levelled  to  the  ground,  and 
weeati  only  learn  by  the  deseri])tion  of  its  destroyers,  with 
what  pDHip  and  ceremony  the  Mexicans  celebrated  on  its 


•.■i 


i 


<a; 


reet, 


?ii  propoiit  a 

an  ivsearcli. 

vili/.cnl,  iiud 

!C  of  almost 

1  ill  tlif  six- 

licriu  rc\^i<)iis 

d  ])ai-tially- 

tutioiis  woro 

.  botokencd 

t.    Ill  iiiiiiiy 

were  equal, 

coiujiu'i'ors. 

nts  we're  on 

er,  us  those 

s  destroyed 

)nality;  and 

the  ravafres 

still  exist, 
try  of  their 
1  rear  their 
nd.     In  the 

or  'I'einplo 
xrouiul,  and 
rovers,  with 
J  rated  on  its 


AilKUICAN   ANTIQUITIES. 


45 


summit  the  rites  of  their  sanguinary  worship.  The  colos- 
sal lijiures  of  the  smi  and  moon,  eovered  with  iilates  of 
gold,  the  hideous  stone  of  sacrilice,  and  the  terrible  sound 
of  the  great  war-drum,  are  mingled  with  strange  fascina- 
tion of  description  in  tlie  pages  of  the  early  chroniclers. 

In  the  city  of  Te/cuco,  which  is  said  to  have  contained 
an  hundred  and  forty  thousand  houses,  are  the  remains  of 
a  great  })yraniid,  built  of  large  masses  of  basalt,  linely 
polished  and  curiously  sculptured  in  hieroglyphics.  Other 
similar  edifices  in  tiie  neighborhood  are  composed  of 
brick.  The  enormous  structure  of  Cholula,  covering  a 
surface  twice  larger  than  the  gi'^at  Egyptian  pyramid,  but 
truncated  at  half  its  altitude,  still,  in  its  ruins,  excites  the 
aihni ration  of  travellers. 

A  still  more  extraordinary  effort  of  semi-civilij2ed  indus- 
try is  to  be  found  in  the  celebrated  Xochicalco,  or  "House 
of  j^'lowers,"  situated  on  the  ])lain  of  Cucrnavaca,  more 
than  a  mile  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  It  appears  to  be 
a  natural  hill,  shaj)ed  in  a  pyramidal  form  by  human  labor, 
and  divided  into  four  terraces.  It  is  between  three  and 
four  hundred  feet  in  height,  and  nearly  three  miles  in  cir- 
cumference. 

Eight  leagues  from  the  city  of  A[exico  are  the  two  cele- 
brated pyramids  of  Teotihuacan,  sacred,  according  to  tra- 
dition, to  the  deified  sun  and  moon.  The  larger  has  a 
base  nearly  seven  hundred  feet  in  length,  and  is  an  hun- 
dred and  eighty  feet  in  height.  They  arc  faced  with  stone, 
aial  covered  with  a  durable  cement  These  pyramidal 
structures  may  be  estimated  by  thousands  in  die  South- 
western provinces  of  this  continent. 

The  ruins  of  ancient  cities,  in  the  same  region,  are 
extremely  numerous,  and  every  thing  evinces  the  former 
existence  of  a  swarming  and  industrious  po[)ulatiun.  In 
Tezcuco  and  its  vicinity  are  the  remains  of  very  magniii- 
cent  buihhngs  and  aqueducts.     At  Mitlan,  in  the  district 


V'M 


>)■ 


48 


INDIAN    HACKS  OF  AMKIllt'A. 


of  Znpotoca,  oc'ciii'  spiviincnH  of  an  liitooture  of  llio  moat 
iii)l)osiM<(  clinniclcr.  Six  ])()r|iliyry  coliiiniis,  each  nine- 
toon  foot  in  liciirlit,  and  of  a  siii<,'lo  stoiio,  doooralod  tlio 
intfrioi- of  the  |)iiiicip;il  ItuiMiii;^'.  Klaborato  Mosaii;  work 
ami  illiisliMtivc  |)aintiii;xs  abound,  strongly  rosoinbliiig 
aoino  of  the  chissicid  aiiti(|iiiti('s. 

Tlio  ruins  of  l'aloii([iio,  in  ('liia|»a,  aro  among  tlio  most 
oxtt'iisivo  and  romarkablo.  Hero  formorly  stood  a  groat 
oity,  tlio  i'('iii:iiiis  (if  wliioli  oan  bo  traced,  it  is  said,  over  u 
space  six  or  seven  leagues  in  cii'cunifcrcnce.  ^luch  elab- 
orate scu]]itinv,  oNliiliiting  curious  liistorioal  rolieis,  is  dis- 
covered in  tlu'  forsaken  apartnients  of  tlic  ancient  jialacos 
and  temples.  Tliese  I'cprc^scnt  human  sacrilii'cs,  dances, 
devotion,  and  other  national  eustotns.  The  richly-i'arved 
ligure  of  a  ci'oss  excites  sui'priso  and  Sjioculation— the 
same  eiiibleiii  having  becMi  discovered  olsowhore,  as  well 
as  .,1  Xoi'tliern  America. 

^^any  surprising  remains,  both  of  erection  and  oxcava- 
ti(m,  aro  to  be  found  near  Villa  Xueva,  in  the  ])rovinc(;  of 
y^acati'cas.  A  rocky  mountain  has  been  cut  into  terraces, 
and  extensive  ruins  of  pyramids,  causeways,  rpiadrangu- 
lar  ciiclosui'cs,  and  massive;  walls  are  still  standing. 

At  Copan,  in  Honduras,  among  many  other  reinai'kablc 
works,  aro  found  numerous  stoni;  obelisks,  of  little  height, 
covered  with  hieroglyphical  representations.  The  I'clics 
of  a  fantastic  idolatry  aro  frequent.  "Monstrous  tigures 
aro  found  amongst  the  ruins;  one  represents  the  colossal 
head  of  an  alligator,  having  in  its  jaws  a  figure  witli  a 
human  face,  but  the  paws  of  an  animal;  anotlier  monster 
has  the  ajipoarance  of  a  gigantic  toad  in  an  erect  j)oa- 
turo,  with  human  arms  and  tiger's  claws."  At  the  time  of 
the  Sjianish  conquest,  Copan  was  still  a  large  and  popu- 
lous city.     It  is  now  ut1(U'ly  deserted. 

The  extensive  ruins  of  Uxmal  or  Ttzlan,  in  Yucatan, 
liavc  boon,  ever  since  the  memory  of  man,  overgrown  with 


AMKUU'AN     ANTHjIITIKS. 


47 


f  tlio  moat 

racli  iiiiio- 

;'()nitc'(l  the 

losii'u!  work 

rcsi'inbliug    ! 

I 
\if  tilt'  most 
Odd  a  'Mvat   ' 
siiiil,  over  a   \ 
^fui'h  clal)- 
I'liol's,  is  dis' 
•ii'iil  ]talae('S 
ices,  (laiici'S, 
iclilyfiirvcd 
Illation — tln^ 
here,  as  well 

and  exeava- 

|)rovinee  of 

into  terraees, 

,  f|nadrangu- 

idinjr. 

r  r(Miiai'l<al>le 
little  li('i,Ldit, 
'Vhc  relies 
;trons  iiii'iires 
tlie  eolossal 
fiLrure  Avitli  a 
tlier  monster 
m  ereet  poa- 
U  the  time  of 
re  and  popu- 

I  in  Yucatan, 
ergrown  with 


an  ancient  forest.  At  this  place  is  a  large  court,  jnived 
entirelv  with  tlic  figures  of  tortoises,  beautifully  carved 
in  relief.  'I'liis  carious  pavement  consists  of  more  than 
foi'ty-thrcc  thousand  of  these  reptiles,  mueli  worn,  though 
cut  uptni  very  iiard  .st(Mie.  A  large  jiyramid  and  temple 
ari^  still  standing,  containing  some  elegant  statues,  and, 
it  is  supposed,  the  re[)resentatioii  of  the  elephant.  (Ireat 
matlu'iuatical  accuracy  and  adhesion  to  the  cardinal  points 
distingui.sh  the  relics  of  this  city. 

Many  other  extraordinary  remains  might  be  cited.  The 
works  of  the  Mexican  nation,  such  as  it  was  found  by  the 
Spaniards,  were  of  a  massive  and  enduring  character. 
K'xtensive  walls,  designed  for  a  dt>fenco  nuaiust  foreign 
enemies;  large  public  granaries  and  baths,  with  admir- 
able roads  and  arpieducts,  evinced  a  degree  of  ])o\ver  and 
enlightenment  to  which  the  colored  races  have  sel(h)m 
attaitied. 

Scidpture  and  elaborate  carving  were  favorite  occupa- 
tions ot'  the  ^[exieans,  as  well  as  of  tlieir  forefathers,  or 
the  races  which  i)receded  them.  The  famous  Stone  of 
Sacrifice,  the  Calendar  of  ^fontezuma,  and  the  hideous 
idol  Teoyamiqiie,  all  still  preserved,  attest  the  grot(>si[ue- 
ness  and  elaborate  fancy  of  their  designs.  The  latter 
image,  as  described  by  a  traveller,  "is  hewn  out  of  one 
solid  bl  ick  of  basalt,  nine  feet  high.  Its  outlines  give  an 
idea  of  a  deformed  human  figure,  uniting  all  that  is  ter- 
rible in  the  tiger  and  rattl(>-snake.  Instead  of  arms,  it  is 
su])plieil  with  two  ]arg\>  serpents,  and  its  dra}iery  is  com- 
posed of  wreathed  snakes,  interwoven  in  the  most  disgust- 
ing manner,  and  the  sides  terminating  in  the  wings  of  a 
vulture.  Jts  feet  are  those  of  a  tiger,  and  between  them 
lies  the  head  of  another  rattle-snake,  which  seems  descend- 
ing from  the  body  of  the  idol.  For  decorations,  it  has  a 
large  nc'  vlaco  composed  of  human  hearts,  hands  and 
skulls,  and  it  has  evidently  been  painted  originally  in 


!l" 


\i^ 


h 


r;l 


>,")'(' 


i 


Mb^ 


■I 


48 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


'  ,,ili' 


natin-al  colors."  Oilier  iigurcs  of  tlie  deified  rattle-snake 
have  been  discovered. 

Great  skill  existed  in  the  art  of  pottery,  and  many  ves- 
sels of  exquisite  design  and  iinish  have  been  disinterred. 

The  hieroglyphic:  1  paintings  and  inanuscri})ts  of  the 
Mexicans  were,  "vvith.  few  exceptions,  destroyed  by  their 
fanatical  conquerors.  Some  clioice  specimens,  however, 
still  exist,  jH'incipally  exliibithig  the  migrations  of  tlie 
Aztecs,  their  wars,  their  religious  ceremonies,  and  the 
genealogy  of  tlieir  sovereigns.  Almanacs  and  other  cal- 
en<lars  of  an  astronomical  nature  have  been  preserved. 
The  material  of  the  manuscript  consists  of  the  skins  of 
animals,  or  of  a  kind  of  vegetable  paper,  formed  in  a  man- 
ner similar  to  the  Egyptian  papyrus. 

Of  the  numerous  cities  and  temple?,  whose  remains  are 
so  abundant,  many  were,  d()ul)tless,  erected  by  the  Aztec 
peo[)le,  wh(jm  Corte/  found  so  munerons  and  flourishing, 
or  by  their  innnediate  ancestors.  Others  were,  probably, 
constructed  at  a  remote  age,  and  by  a  people  Avho  had  at  an 
early  period  migrated  to  these  regions.  A  certain  resem- 
blance, however,  appears  to  iTrvado  tliem  all.  The  pre- 
sence of  enormous  pyramids  and  quadrangles,  the  peculiar 
eonstniction  of  causeways  and  aqueducts,  and  the  great 
similarity  in  mythological  lepresentation,  a{)pear  to  indi- 
cate tliat  theii"  'ounders  were  originally  of  a  common  stock, 
and  all  of  certain  national  prepossessions. 


■attle-snake 

many  ves- 
lisiiiterred. 
ipts  uf  the 
id  by  tUoir 
!,  however, 
oris  of  the 
^s,  and  the 
1  other  cal- 

preserveu. 
10  skins  of 
d  in  a  man- 
remains  are 
y  the  Aztec 
flom'ishinp;, 
probably, 
10  had  at  an 
rtain  rcsem- 
Tlie  pre- 
the  peculiar 
d  the  great 
)ear  to  iiidi- 
lunon  stock, 


AMERICAN    ANTIQUITIES,  49 

CHAPTER  III. 

ANTIQUITHvS    OF    SOUTH    AMKUIOA. 

<i*    *     *     Wo  are  but  wtn-re  we  were, 
Still  waiulerinjf  in  a  City  of  tlic  Dead!" 

Ror';ks. 

At  the  Spanish  discovery,  South  America,  like  the 
Northern  continent,  was,  in  a  ifnvdt  portion,  peopled  by 
half-savage  tril)es,  resembling  the  Indiaiis  of  our  own 
country.  Sonic  powerful  and  partially-civilized  kingdoms, 
however,  yet  survived,  and  of  these,  the  empire  of  tlie 
Pci'uvi.'in  Incas  was  the  fu'st.  Under  the  sway  of  these 
jiowerful  sovereigns  was  comprehended  an  extensive  dis- 
trict, Ij'ing  along  the  Pacific  coast  for  many  hundreds  of 
mili>s.  Other  nations,  in  their  vicinity,  of  whose  history 
we  are  ignorant,  also  possessed  a  considerable  share  of 
power  and  imlcpendent  government. 

Tlie  antiquities  of  these  regions,  so  similar  to  those  of 
the  Xorthcru  continent,  appear  to  jirove  a  similaritv  of 
origin  in  their  founders.  Very  numerous  mounds  occur, 
some  of  them  two  hundred  feet  in  height,  and  containing 
relics  of  Ihe  dead.  Urns  of  fine  construction,  and  human 
1  odios  interred  in  a  sitting  posture  have  been  excavated. 
Embalming  has  evidently  been  extensivelv  practised,  and 
in  many  instances  the  arid  nature  of  the  soil,  without  this 
prccaiition,  has  preserved  the  bodies  of  its  ancient  inhabit- 
:ants.  Caverns  appear  to  have  been  freqnentlv  ad()pt(>d 
as  cemeteries.  In  one  of  these,  six  hundred  skel(>tons 
were  found,  bent  double,  and  rejrularlv  ari'anged  in  bask- 
ets. Stone  tombs,  of  a  very  massive  ('(instruction,  have 
also  been  disinhumeil. 

In  these  mounds  and  graves  are  found  a  gr(\it  variety 
of  ancient  implements,  of  gold,  copper,  and  sto?u\    Exqui- 
site carvings  in  stone,  and  jewels  evincing  great  skill  in 
4 


50 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


the  lapidaiy,  have  been  discovered.  The  idols  of  gold 
and  copper  are  often  of  singular  construction,  being  foruied 
of  tliiii  plates  of  metal  liamniered  into  their  resjieetive 
shapes,  without  a  single  seam.  Stone  mirrors  and  vases 
of  marble,  weapons,  domestie  utensils,  cotton  cloth  of  fine 
texture,  and  the  im})lements  of  ancient  mining,  have  also 
been  frequently  brought  to  light. 

The  system  of  ancient  agriculture  and  of  artificial  irri- 
gation ap^iears  to  have  been  extremely  ingenious,  and  well 
adapted  to  the  nature  of  the  soil  and  cliiuile,  reminding 
ns  strongly  of  the  Chinese  industry  in  Ll^loting  similar 
objects.  The  steepest  mountains  were  laitl  out  in  terraces, 
an<l  arpieducts  of  the  most  solid  and  durable  construction 
conveyed  i^ater  for  domestic  uses  and  the  fertilization  of 
land.  In  some  instances,  the  pipes  of  these  aiiucducts  were 
of  gold — a  circumstance  which  exciU'd  the  cupidity  of  the 
Spaniards,  and  contributed  to  their  destruction. 

The  public  r(~>ads  and  causeways  laid  out  by  tins  aiicient 
]>eople,  may  justly  compece  with  the  most  celebrated  woi'ks 
of  the  same  kind  in  the  old  world.  Their  Cyclopean  an  hi- 
teeture,  and  the  ingenuity  with  which  the  greatest  natural 
dlfliculties  have  been  overcome,  excite  the  a<lmiration  of 
travellers  and  inquirers.  ''  We  were  surpri.'sed,'"  savs  Hum- 
boldt, "to  liud  at  this  place  (Assuay),  and  at  heights  which 
greatly  surpass  the  top  of  the  Peak  of  Tenei-ilVe,  the  mag- 
nificent remains  of  a  road  constructed  by  the  Tneas  of 
Peru.  This  causeway,  lined  with  I'recstoiie,  may  l)e  com- 
pared to  the  finest  ]^)inan  roads  1  have  seen,  in  Italv, 
France  or  S})ain.  It  is  ])erfectly  straight,  and  keeps  the 
.same  direction  f  )r  six  or  eight  thousand  metres.  We 
observed  the  contii  ation  of  this  road  near  Caxamarea, 
one  hundred  and  twenty  leagues  to  the  south  of  Assuav, 
and  it  is  believeil,  in  the  country,  that  it  led  as  far  as  the 
city  of  Cuzco."  When  complet(^,  it  extended  from  Cuzco 
to  Quito,  a  distance  of  five  hundred  leagues. 


'*^ 


)ls  of  gold 
.'ing  forme<l 
'  respective 
!  ami  vases 
lotli  of  line 
_f,  luvvc  also 

vtificial  irri- 
iis,  ainl  well 
,  reinhuling 
till''"  similai' 
tin  terraces, 
constrnetion 
tili/atioii  of 
iciluets  were 
lid  it}'  of  the 
n. 

this  ancient 
)rate(.l  works 
()]iean  anhi- 
iitest  natural 
hniration  of 
"'  savs  Iluin- 
fights  which 
tie,  tlie  nuig- 
he  Tncas  of 
:na\'  hv  coni- 
sn,  in  Italy, 
d  keeps  the 
netres.     We 

Caxaniarea, 
1  of  Ass  nay, 
as  far  as  the 

from  Cuzco 


AMEKICAN    ANTIQUITIES. 


51 


"One  of  these  great  roads  passed  through  the  plains 
near  the  sea,  and  the  other  over  the  mountains  in  the  inte- 
rior. Augustin  de  Carcite  says  that  for  the  construction 
of  the  road  over  the  mountains,  they  were  compelled  to 
cut  away  rocks,  and  to  fill  np  chasms,  often  from  ninety 
to  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet  deep,  and  that  when  it 
was  fust  made,  it  was  so  plain  and  level,  that  a  carriage 
might  easily  pass  over  it;  and  of  the  other,  which  pursued 
a  less  difficult  route,  that  it  was  forty  feet  Avide,  and  as 
it  was  carried  through  valleys,  in  order  to  avoid  the 
trouble  of  rising  and  descending,  it  was  constructed  upon 
a  high  end)ankmcnt  of  earth."'""' 

The  ruins  of  many  edifices,  all  of  massive  construction, 
and  all  bearing  the  marks  of  similarity  of  origin,  are  scat- 
tered tliroughout  a  great  expanse  of  country.  In  the 
ancient  city  of  Tialiuanaco,  Iniilt  before  the  days  of  the 
Ineas,  tlie  architecture  appears  to  have  been  of  tlie  most 
massive  character,  reminding  us  of  the  Cyclopean  struc- 
tures at  Baalbec  and  Myceua".  Immense  porches  and 
doorways,  each  formed  of  a  single  stone,  and  supported 
on  masses  of  similar  magnitu  le,  struck  the  early  travel- 
lers with  astonishment.  In  Cuzco,  the  city  of  the  Tncas, 
are  many  remains  of  a  singular  character.  The  walls  are 
built  of  stones  of  great  dimensions,  and,  though  of  umny 
angles,  fitted  so  accurately  that  the  interstices  can  scarcely 
be  seen.  On  a  round  mountain  near  Caxamarca,  are  the 
extensive  ruins  of  a  city,  built  in  terraces,  and  constructed 
of  such  enormous  stones,  that  a  single  slab  often  forms  the 
'.'iitire  side  of  an  apartment.  Above  these  circular  terraces, 
seven  in  number,  a])i)ear  the  remains  of  a  great  fortress 
I  ir  ]  lalace.  ^Fany  cities  of  a  similar  const  ruction  have  been 
discovered.  In  some  instances,  pointi?d  or  bell-shaped  roofs, 
composed  of  s^^'Mies  laid  in  cement,  have  been  remarked. 

*  Bradford's  Origiti  nnd  History  of  the  Red  Race. 


"■■'^?. 


52 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


Sonic  of  tlic  ruins  arc  constructed  of  unburnt  brick,  exceed- 
ingly hardened  1)}'  tlic  sun. 

Many  sculptures,  evincing  great  skill  arid  delicacy,  still 
exist.  Tlicsc  are  the  more  remarkable  when  it  is  consid- 
ered that  the  chief  instruments  of  the  ancient  inliabitants 
were,  probably,  for  the  most  part,  com[)c>s(Hl  only  of  hard 
cned  copper.  Of  this  material,  their  wea})ons,  often  of 
exquisite  manufacture,  were  composed.  Far  to  tlie  north- 
ward, beyond  the  dominion  of  the  Incas,  inscriptions  and 
figures  may  be  found  sculptured  on  the  rocks.  "(,)n  the 
banks  of  the  Orinoco  and  in  various  parts  of  Guiana,  there 
are  rude  figures  traced  upon  granite  and  other  liard  stones, 
some  of  them,  like  tlios(!  in  the  I'nited  Shites,  cut  at  an 
immense  height  upon  the  face  of  perpendicular  rocks. 
They  re])resent  the  sim  and  moon,  tigers,  ci'ocodiles  and 
snakes,  and  oci-a.'^ionally  they  appear  to  be  hicroglyphical 
figures  and  I'cgular  cliaracters." 

The  surprising  number  of  these  ruins  and  I'clics,  and 
the  great  st)ace  over  which  they  extend  indicate  the  (>.\ist- 
ence,  fur  many  ages,  of  a  people  possessing  all  the  powci 
which  regular  govermiuMit,  settled  institiilions,  and  national 
character  can  give.  "In  examining,"  says  .Mr.  lii'adlord, 
"the  line  of  civilization,  as  indicated  at  j)rcseiit  by  these 
ancient  remains,  wliieh  is  found  to  commence  on  the  plain.s 
of  Varinas,  and  to  extend  thence  to  tlie  ruins  of  the  stone 
edifices,  which  were  observed  about  the  niiddle  of  tlie  last 
century,  on  the  road  over  the  vViidcs,  in  the  pi'ovince  of 
C'ujo,  in  Chili,  or  to  the  road  described  by  th(>  .b  suit 
Imonsff,  or  to  tlu;  ancient  aqueducts  upon  tlu;  l)anks  of 
the  river  Maypocho,  insoutli  latitude  thirty-three  degrees, 
ei.Kteen  minutes;  wo  are  surprised  to  discover  a  continuous, 
unbroken  chain  of  thesi>  replies  of  alioi'iginal  civili/.ation. 
l;ev(>rting  to  the  e})ocli  ol'  their  construction,  W(>  nvo.  pre- 
si  nte.d  with  tln'  astonishing  spe(!ta(;le  of  a  great  raet^  cid- 
tivatiiig  the  earth,  and  possi'ssing  jnany  of  the  ai'ts  dilbised 


;k,  exceed- 

lictacy,  still 
t  is  coiisid- 
inluil)ituntri 
ly  ol'  litird 
s,  often  of 
I  the  nortli- 
iptions  and 
,     "On  the 
liana,  there 
lard  stones, 
s,  cnt  at  an 
ular   n)cks. 
codiK's  and 
■  r(\!j,-ly[)hi('al 

I'dics,  and 
l«'  the  exist- 

I  the  |Hi\vei 
md  iiiitioiial 
r,  P.radl'oi'd, 

it  by  th(^se 

II  the  plains 
)(■  the  stone 
'.  of  till"  last 

lilMN  illCC    ul 

tll(>    .hsuit 

If  hanks  of 

\vc  degrees, 

.continuous, 

eivili/ation. 

\vt>  are  i>re- 

'at  raee  eul- 

arts  dilViised 


AMERICAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


53 


at  an  early  period  throngh  an  immense  territory,  three 
thonsand  miles  in  extent.  Even  up  to  the  tim.e  of  the 
diseover\r,  most  of  this  vast  region  was  occupied  by  pop- 
ulous tribes,  who  were  dependent  upon  agricixlture  for 
subsistence,  were  clothed,  and  in  the  enjoymetit  of  regular 
systems  of  religion,  and  their  own  peculiar  forms  of  gov- 
ernmei:t.  From  conquest,  and  various  causes,  some  sov- 
ereignties had  increased  more  rapidly  than  others;  but 
still,  whether  we  are  guided  by  the  testimony  of  the  Span- 
ish invaders,  or  by  the  internal  evidence  yet  existent  in 
the  ancient  ruins,  it  is  impossible  not  to  trace,  alike  in 
their  manners,  customs,  and  physical  aiipearance,  and  in 
the  general  siinilitTide  observable  in  the  character  of  their 
monuments,  that  they  were  all  luembers  of  the  same  fam- 
ily of  the  human  race,  and  probably  of  identical  origin." 


THE  ABORIGINES  OF  MEXICO. 


CHAPTER  I. 

GENERAL  REMARKS EXPEPITION  OF  GRIJALVA 

HERNANDO    CORTEZ. 

"*  *  »  The  Racfi  of  Yore; 

How  are  they  blotted  from  the  things  iliat  be!" 

Scott. 

The  kingdoms  of  New  Sjiain,  as  Central  America  and 
tlie  adjoining  country  were  tirst  called,  presented  a  for  dif- 
ferent aspect,  wlien  first  discovered  by  Europeans,  i'rom 
that  of  the  vast  and  inhospitable  wilderness  at  the  North 
and  East.  Instead  of  an  unln-oken  forest,  thiidy  itdiabited 
by  roving  savages,  here  were  seen  large  and  well-built 
cities,  a  people  of  gentler  mood  and  more  refined  manners, 
and  an  advancement  in  the  useful  arts  which  removed  the 
inhabitants  as  far  fi-cm  their  rude  neighbors,  in  the  scale 
of  civilization,  as  they  themselves  Avere  excelled  by  the 
nations  of  Europe. 

When  first  discovered  and  explored  by  Europeans,  Mex- 
ico was  a  kingdom  of  gi'cat  extent  and  power.  Monte- 
zuma, chronicled  as  the  eleventh,  in  regular  succession,  of 
the  Aztec  rnonarclis,  lield  supreme  authority.  His  domin- 
ions extended  fi'om  near  the  isthmus  of  Darien,  to  the 
undefined  country  of  the  Ottomies  and  Chichimccas,  rude 
nations  living  in  a  barbarous  state  among  the  mountains 
of  the  North.  Ilis  name  signified  "the  surly  (or  grave) 
Prince,"  a  title  justified  by  the  solemn  and  ceremonious 
homage  which  he  constantly  exacted. 


]0. 


A — 


e!' 


merica  and 
;ed  a  far  dif- 
pcans,  iix^m 
it  the  North 
ly  inhabited 
(1  well-built 
ed  manners, 
removed  the 
in  the  scale 
elled  by  the 

jpeans,  Mex- 
rer.  Monte- 
ucce?sion,  of 
His  domin- 
:vrien,  to  the 
iimecas,  rude 
le  mountains 
■ly  (or  grave) 
ceremonious 


f'^^H 

'     Juiin 

and 

B       1   aticl  1 

1             i       T 

A 

in  t'l 

j    <';iiis( 

j    civil 

Ana 

'    that 
the  ii 
rt'li,<>'i| 
itantJ 
the  f| 
ive  (1 
tlie  \1 

su/Ii(' 


ABORIOINKS  OF  MEXICO. 


55 


When  the  Sptviiiards  first  appeared  on  tlie  coast,  the 
natural  terror  excited  by  such  unlieard-of  conquerors  was 
infinitely  heightened  by  divers  portents  and  omens,  which 
the  magicians  and  neei'omaneers  of  the  king  construed  as 
warnings  of  great  and  disastrous  revolutions.  This  occa- 
sioned that  strange,  weak,  and  vacillating  polie}',  wliieh, 
as  we  shall  lunvafter  see,  he  adopted  towards  Cortcz, 
Comets,  coullagrations,  ovei'llows,  monsters,  dreams,  and 
visions,  were  constantly  brought  to  the  notice  of  the  royal 
council,  and  inferences  were  drawn  therefrom  as  to  the 
wisest  course  to  be  pursued. 

The  national  character,  religion  and  customs  of  the  Mex- 
icans jjresented  stranger  anomalies  than  have  ever  been 
witnessed  in  anv  nation  on  the  earth.  Thev  entertained 
abstract  ideas  of  right  and  wrong,  with  systems  of  ethics 
and  social  jn'oprieties,  which,  for  truth  and  purity,  com- 
jiare  favorably  witli  the  most  enlightened  doctrines  of  civ- 
ilized nations,  while,  at  the  same  time,  the  custom  of 
human  sacrifice  was  carried  to  a  scarcely  credible  extent, 
and  accompanied  by  circumstances  of  cruelty,  filthiness 
and  cannibalism,  more  loathsome  than  ever  elsewhere 
disgraced  the  most  barbarous  of  nations. 

A  vast  amount  of  labor  and  research  has  been  expended 
in  ellbrts  to  arrive  at  some  satisfactory  conclusion  as  to  the 
causes  which  led  to  the  Mexican  superiority  in  the  arts  of 
civilization  over  the  other  inhabitants  of  the  New  World. 
Analogies,  so  stiMgas  to  leave  little  doubt  upon  the  mind 
that  they  must  be  more  than  coincidences,  were  Ibund,  on 
the  lirst  discovery  of  the  country,  between  the  traditions, 
religious  exercises,  sculpture,  and  language  of  the  iiihab- 
itants  of  Central  America,  and  those  of  various  nations  in 
tlie  01(1  World.  Notwithstanding  this,  the  great  distinct- 
ive dirterenee  in  the  bodily  conformation  of  all  natives  of 
tlie  Western  Continent,  from  the  people  of  the  East,  proves 
suificiently  that,  previous  to  the  Spanish  discoveries,  tlie 


m 


ivt 


fM 


"^ 


I- 


6b 


INDIAN  RACES   OK   AMJCIilCA. 


timo  clapscMl  sinoc  any  direct  coininuiiiralion  could  hrivo 
fxistcd  between  the  two,  niut^t  liuve  been  wry  <,a'eat.  '^J'lic 
obvious  aii(i(|uity  ol'  the  areliiteelural  vemains  carries  us 
back  to  a  most  reiaoto  era:  sonio  maintain  th.it  pf)rtions 
of  tlieso  must  have  been  standin;^  lor  as  many  centiiiies 
as  the  great  pyramids  of  Kgypt,  while  others  refer  them  to 
a  much  later  origin.  The  jjcrnicious  habit  of  lirst  adopting 
a  theory,  and  then  searching  for  such  facts  only  as  tend  to 
Pii[)port  it,  "was  never  more  forcibly  exenijililied  than  in  the 
variant  hy])othescs  as  to  the  origin  of  Mexican  el  vili/ation. 

The  valley  and  country  of  Anahnac,  or  Mexico,  was 
Siicccssivcly  peopled,  according  to  traditioii  and  the  evi- 
dence of  ancient  hieroglyphics,  by  the  Toltecs,  the  Clii- 
chimecas,  and  the  Xahuatlacas,  of  which  last-mentione(I 
people,  the  7\/tecs,  who  iinally  obtaiiicd  the  ascendancy, 
formed  the  princi})al  tribe.  Thesi;  immigrations  wei'e  from 
Homc  indeterminate  region  at  the  noi'lh,  and  appear  to 
have  been  the  result  of  a  gradual  ])rogression  southwiird, 
as  traces  of  the  j'jccnliar  architectural  structures  of  the 
^Nfex'can  nations  are  to  be  found  str(>tching'  throughout  the 
country  l)etwecn  the  l^ielcy  Mountains  and  the  sea,  as  iiir 
north  as  the  (ula  and  Colorado, 

The  ]H'rio(ls  of  these  several  arrivals  in  Anahnac  are 
set  down  as  follows.  That  of  the  Toltecs.  about  the  mid- 
dle of  the  seventh  century,  and  of  the  rude  Chichimeeas 
the  year  1070.  The  Nahuatlacas  conunenced  their  migra- 
tions about  1170,  and  the  A/.tecs,  separating  themselves 
from  the  rest  of  the  nation,  founded  the  ancient  city  of 
Mexico  in  the  year  1325. 

The  talc  of  cruelties,  oppressions,  and  wholesale  destruc- 
tion att(!ndant  ujion  the  S])anish  invasion  and  concpicst, 
is  a  long  one,  and  can  be  here  but  briefly  epitomized;  but 
enough  will  be  given  to  leave,  as  far  as  practicable,  a  ju.st 
impression  of  the  real  condition  of  these  primitive  nations, 
and  the  more  marked  outlines  of  their  history. 


1(1  liavo 
X.     'J'lic 
irrics  us 
portions 
jcnturios 
them  to 
uloptiiig 
^  tt'iid  to 
;iii  ill  tlie 
ili/ation. 
:ic(),  NViis 
the  ovi- 
tin;  Chi- 
KMitioiied 
(■ndiiiu'V, 
/ri'c  fruiii 
ipjxMr  to 
iitliwiinl, 
s  of  tlio 
i-1i()\i1  the 
H'ii,  as  i'ar 

hnae  arc 
llie  iiiid- 
chiniecas 
•ii'  iiiiii'ra- 
lemselves 
it  city  of 

V.  (h\struc- 

COlKJUCSt, 

li/.ed;  but 
l)le,  a  just 
-c  nations, 


m 


mi 

m 


I 


I  HUM   A.N  OlIKilNAr,   "(IRTRAIT   HV  TrTIAN. 


was 
witli 

tiio  "si 


t] 


KMl 


ABOUIUINKS  oy  MKXICO, 


67 


In  the  early  [lart  of  tlie  sixteenth  century,  the  enstern 
sliore  of  Mfxic'o  and  Central  Amcriru  had  lu'cii  t'X|ili»rc'd 
by  S|>anisli  navi^atorH;  and  Vasoo  Is'n^iiez  dc  Balboa,  led 
by  tlie  ordinary  attraction— talrs  of  a  eonntry  ricii  in  ^'old 
and  silver — had,  in  Sei)tend)er,  IHiy,  crossed  tlie  i.stlnnns 
t(j  the  great  and  unknown  ocean  of  the  West.  'J'lie  con- 
dition and  character  of  the  natives  was  but  litth;  noticed 
by  these  early  c.\])lo  re  I's,  and  no  motives  of  i)oli(;3Mn'  luunan- 
ity  restrained  tlieni  from  ti'eating  tliose  they  met  as  eaprico 
or  fanaticism  might  dictate.  Balboa  is  indeed  .si)oken  of 
as  inclined  to  more  huuKine  courses  in  his  intercourse  with 
the  natives  than  many  of  his  contempc^raries,  but  even  he 
showed  himself  by  no  means  scrn])nlous  in  the  means  by 
which  he  foreeil  his  way  through  the  country,  and  levied 
contributions  njion  the  native  chiefs. 

The  mind  of  the  Si)ani.sli  nation  was  at  last  arovLsed 
and  inflamed  by  accounts  of  the  wealth  and  power  of  the 
great  country  open  to  a<lventure  in  New  Spain,  and  plans 
were  laid  to  undertake  some  more  notable  possession  in 
those  regions  than  had  yet  resulted  from  the  unsuccessful 
and  petty  attem])ts  at  colonization  upon  the  coast. 

Diego  Valasquez,  governor  of  Cuba,  as  lieutenant  to 
Diego  Colon,  son  and  suecesscu-  of  the  great  admiral,  sent 
an  expedition,  under  command  of  Juan  dc  Grijalva,  to 
''k'ucatan  and  the  adjoining  coast,  in  April  of  the  year  1518. 
After  revenging  former  injuries  received  from  the  natives 
of  Yucatan,  the  party  sailed  westward,  and  entt'reil  the 
river  of  Tobasco,  where  some  intercourse  and  i)etty  traffic 
was  carried  on  with  the  Indians.  The  natives  were  tilled 
with  wonder  at  tlie  "Make  of  the  Ships,  and  dill'erence  of 
the  Men  and  Habits,"  on  their  lirst  a])])earanee,  and  "stood 
without  Motion,  as  deprived  of  the  use  of  their  Hands  by 
the  Astonishment  under  which  their  Eyes  had  brought 
them." 

The  usual  propositions  were  made  by  the  Spanish  com- 


^•, 


r.8 


INDIAN   HACKS  OF  AMERICA. 


mandcr,  of  submission  to  tlic  great  and  nuglity  Prince  of 
the  Kast,  whose  suhject  he  prolossod  to  be;  but  "they  licard 
liis  proposition  with  the  marks  of  a  disagreeable  attention," 
and,  not  unnaturally,  made  answer  that  tlie  proposal  to 
form  a  peace  which  should  entail  servitude  upon  them  was 
strange  indeed,  adding  that  it  would  be  well  to  inquire 
whether  their  present  king  was  a  ruler  whom  they  loved 
before  proposing  a  new  one. 

Still  pursuing  a  westerly  course  along  the  coast,  Gri- 
jalva  gained  the  first  intelligence  received  by  the  Span- 
iards of  the  Emperor  Montezuma.  At  a  small  island 
were  found  the  lirst  bloody  tokens  of  the  barbarous  reli- 
gious rites  of  the  natives.  In  a  "House  of  Lime  and 
Stone"  were  "several  Idols  of  a  horrible  Figure,  and  a 
more  horrible  worship  paid  to  them;  for,  near  the  Steps 
wlun-c  they  were  placed,  were  the  carkass(\s  of  six  or 
seven  men,  newly  sacrificed,  *  cut  to  ineces,  and  their 
Entrails  laid  oi)en." 

Kcai'hing  a  low  sandy  isle,  still  farther  to  the  westward, 
on  the  day  of  St.  John  the  Baptist,  the  Sjxaniards  named 
the  place  San  Juan,  and  from  their  coupling  with  this 
title  a  word  caught  from  an  Indian  seen  there,  resulted 
the  iiame  of  San  Juan  de  Ulloa,  bestowed  upon  the  site 
of  the  jtresent  great  fortress.  No  settlement  was  attemptc>d, 
and  Grijalva  returned  to  Cuba,  carrying  with  him  many 
samples  of  native  ingenuity,  and  of  the  wealth  of  the 
country,  in  the  shape  of  rude  figures  of  lizards,  birds,  and 
other  trilks,  wrought  in  gold  imperfectly  refined. 

The  Cuban  governor,  Velasquez,  determined  to  pursue 
discoveries  and  conquest  at  the  west,  and  appointed  ITer- 
nando  Cortez,  a  Spanish  cavalier,  resident  upon  the  island, 
to  command  the  new  expedition.  That  the  reader  may 
judge  what  strange  contradictions  may  exist  in  the  char- 
acter of  the  same  individual;  how  generosity  and  cu])id- 
it}^,  mildness  and  ferocity;  cruelty  and  kindness,  may  bo 


4 


was 


ing 


mail 
Vv< 
ern  cd 
uuin 
Ilava 
weig 
briga 
are  t 
sixtee 
an 


ABORIGINES  OF  MEXICO. 


39 


Prince  of 
they  lieard 

attention,"  | 

reposal  to  j! 

I  them  was  i } 

to  inquire  li 

they  loved  | 

coast,  Gri- 

thc  Span- 

Qall  island    j 

)aroiis  reli-    | 

Lime  and    j 

nire,  and  a    i 

I 

r  the  Steps    , 

I  of  six  or    j 

and  their 

westward, 
irds  named 
<r  with  tliis 
re,  resulted 
ion  the  site 
s  attemi)ted, 

him  many 
alth  of  the 
s,  birds,  and 
led. 

'd  to  ]inrsue 
)()inted  Uer- 
n  the  ishtnd, 
reader  may 
in  the  char- 
Y  and  eu]iiil- 
;iess,  mav  be 


combined,  let  him  compare  the  after  conduct  of  this  cele- 
brated hero  witli  his  cliaraeter  as  sketched  by  the  historian. 

"Corte'2  was  well  made,  and  of  an  agreeable  counte- 
nance; and,  besides  those  common  natural  Endowments, 
he  was  of  a  temper  wliich  rendered  him  very  amiable; 
for  lie  always  spoke  well  of  the  absent,  and  was  pleasant 
and  discreet  in  his  Conversation,  llis  Generosity  was 
sueli  that  his  Friends  jiartook  of  all  he  had,  without  being 
sufl'er'd  by  liim  to  publish  their  Obligations." 

In  tlie  words  of  the  poet,  he 

"*  *  *  Was  one  in  whom 

Adventure,  and  ondiirance,  and  emprise 
C 'waited  the  mind's  faculties,  and  strung 
The  body's  sinews.     Brave  he  was  in  figlit, 
Courteous  ill  han([uet,  scornt'ul  of  repose, 
And  bountiful,  and  cruel,  and  devout." 

Hidalgos  of  family  and  wealth  crowded  eagerly  to  join 
the  fortunes  of  tlie  bold  and  popular  leader.  "N'otliing 
was  to  be  seen  or  spoken  of,"  says  Bernal  Diaz,  "but  sell- 
ing lands  to  purchase  arms  and  horses,  quilting  coats  of 
mail,  making  bread,  and  salting  })ork  for  sea  store." 

From  St.  Jago  the  fleet  saildl  to  Ti'inidad  on  the  south- 
ern coast,  where  the  force  was  increa.^ed  by  a  considerable 
number  of  men,  and  thence  round  Cape  Antonio  to 
Havana.  From  the  latter  port  the  flotilla  got  under 
weigh  on  tlie  10th  of  February,  lol9.  It  consisted  of  a 
bi'igantine  and  ten  other  small  vessels,  whose  motley  crews 
are  thus  enumerated:  "live  hundred  and  eight  Soldiers, 
sixteen  Horse;  and  of  Mechanics,  Pilots,  and  IMarriners, 
an  hundred  anc^  nine  more,  besides  two  Chapl.iins,  the 
Licentiate  Juan  Diaz,  and  Father  Bartholomew  De  Olmedo, 
a  Eegular  of  the  Order  of  our  Lady  de  la  Merced."  The 
missile  weapons  of  the  pai'ty  were  muskets,  cross-bows, 
faU'oncts,  and  ten  small  field  pieces  of  brass.     The  color, 


n 


: 


60 


INDIAN   RACES  OF   AitEKICA. 


qumity,  and  condition  of  oucli  of  tlio  horses  is  described 
with  great  iiarticulurity. 

Tho  lirst  land  made  was  the  ishmd  of  Cozuniel,  oft"  tlio 
coast  of  Yncalan.  One  of  tlic  vessels  reached  the  island 
two  days  befoi'e  the  rest ;  and  linding  the  habitations  of  the 
natives  abandoned,  the  Spaniards  j-anged  tlie  eonntiy,  and 
plundered  their  huts  and  temple,  carrying  otf  divers  small 
gold  iniiiges,  together  with  clothes  and  jirovisions. 

Coi'tez,  on  his  arrival,  strongly  reprehended  these  pro- 
ceedings, and,  lil)erating  three  Indians  who  had  been 
taken  prisoners,  sent  them  to  seek  out  their  fi'iends,  and 
explain  to  lli.ni  his  friendly  intentions.  Their  conlidence 
was  ]ii'ilertly  restored  by  tliis  a(;t,  and  by  tlie  restoration 
of  the  stolen  proport}';  so  that  the  next  day,  the  chief 
came  with  his  peo})le  to  the  camp,  and  mingled  with  the 
Spaniai'ds  on  the  most  friendly  terms. 

No  farther  violoiiee  was  olfered  to  them  or  their  ])rop- 
erty  dui'ing  the  stay  of  the  Spaniards,  exce])t  that  these 
zealous  reloi'mers  st'i/ced  the  idols  in  the  temple,  and  roll- 
ing them  down  the  steps,  built  an  altar,  and  placed  an 
image  of  the  Vii'gin  upon  it,  erecting  a  wooden  erucilix 
hard  by.  The  holy  father,  Juan  Diaz,  then  said  Mass,  to 
the  great  edification  of  tin;  wondering  natives. 

This  temple  was  a  well-built  edilice  of  stone,  and  con- 
tained a  hideous  idol  in  somewhat  of  the  human  form. 
"All  the  Idols,"  says  do  Solis,  "worshijiped  by  tlu'se  mis- 
erable People,  Avere  formed  in  the  same  Manner;  Ibr  tho' 
tliey  differed  in  the  Make  and  Kepresentation,  they  were 
all  alike  most  abominably  ugly;  Avhetlu^-  it  was  that  the.^o 
]}arbai'ians  had  n(j  Notion  of  any  other  Model,  or  that  the 
Devil  j'cally  a])[)eared  to  them  in  some  such  Shajte;  so 
that  li';  who  struck  out  the  most  liideous  iigure,  was 
accounti^l  the  best  woik  man." 

Seeing  that  no  prodigy  succeeded  the  destruction  of 
their  g.  )ds,  the  savages  were  the  more  ready  to  pay  attention 


fr 


I'ool 
Ilearl\^ 
guish; 
tili;ui 


rri 


dcricribed 

^c],  off  the   | 
tlie  island   \ 
tious  of  the 
)utitry,  and 
ivcrs  small   ' 
)n.s. 
L  these  pro-  ; 

hud  heeu 
friends,  and 
:  contidenec 

restoration 

^,  the  ehiel' 

od  -with  the 

:  their  prop- 
)t  that  tlii\se 
)le,  and  roll- 
(1  plaeed  an 
)den  erucillx 
said  Mass,  to 
s. 

»ne,  and  con- 
liuinan  Ibrni. 
by  tlu'se  mis- 
mer;  I'ur  tho" 
>ii,  they  were 
v:is  tliat  these 
el,  or  that  the 
leh  Sliape;  so 
s  figure,    was 

Icstruction  of 
)pay  attcutiou 


ABORIGINES  OF  MEXICO. 


61 


■      IS 


to  the  teachings  which  were  so  carncstly"'imprcsscd  upon 
them  by  the  strangers,  and  appeared  to  hold  the  symbols 
of  their  w(n'sliip  in  some  veneration,  offering  incense 
before  them,  as  erstwhile  to  the  idols. 

Cortcz  heard  one  of  the  Indians  make  many  attempts 
to  pronounce  the  word  Castilla,  and,  his  attention  being 
attract(>d  by  the  circumstance,  he  pursued  his  inquiries 
until  he  ascertained  that  two  Spaniards  were  living  among 
the  Indians  on  the  main. 

lie  immediately  used  great  diligence  co  ransom  and 
restore  them  to  liberty,  and  succeeded  in  the  case  of  one  of 
them,  named  Jeronimo  de  Aguilar,  who  occupies  tin  import- 
ant place  in  the  subsequent  details  of  adventure.  Tlie 
other,  one  Alonzo  Guerrero,  having  married  a  wife  among 
the  Indians,  pivfei-ri-d  to  remain  in  his  present  condition. 
He  said  to  his  companion:  "Brotlier  Aguilar,  I  am  mar- 
ritvl,  aiul  have  three  sons,  and  am  a  Cacique  and  ca})tain  in 
the  wars;  go  you  in  Ciod's  name;  my  face  is  marked,  and 
my  ears  bored;  what  would  those  Spaniards  think  of  me 
if  I  wont  among  tlu'in?" 

Do  Solis  says  of  this  man  that  his  natural  affection  was 
hut  a  pretence  "why  he  would  not  abandon  those  dejilor- 
able  Conveniences,  which,  with  liim  weigluMl  more  than 
Honour  or  Religion.  We  do  not  fuid  that  anv  other 
Spaniard,  in  the  whol(>  Course  of  these  Conquests,  com- 
mitted the  like  Crime;  nt)r  was  the  name  of  this  Wretch 
worthy  to  be  remendjered  in  this  History:  15ut,  being 
found  in  the  writings  of  others,  it  could  not  be  eoncenled; 
and  his  I'lvanqile  serves  to  show  us  tlie  Weakm-ss  of 
Nature,  and  into  Avhat  an  Abyss  of  ^lisery  a  man  may 
fall,  wlien  God  has  abandon'd  him." 

Poor  Aguilar  had  been  eight  years  a  captive:  latooed, 
jieai'ly  naked,  and  browned  by  sun,  he  was  scan-o  distin- 
guishable from  his  Indiun  companions,  and  the  onlv  Cas- 
tilian  words  which  he  was  at  (irst  al)le  to  recall  were  "Dios 


M,H;<I 


v'f*5.i 


62 


INDEAX  HACKS  OF  A:\IK1UCA, 


M'* 


;l 


.. . 
I'- 


u 


■ii  A 


:l 


hi 


^11 


Santa  Maria,"  and  "Sovilla."  Still  nundfiil  of  liis  old 
associations  and  reli.o'ion,  lie  bore  at  his  sliouldcr  tlic  tat- 
tered Iraii'ments  of  a  prayer-Look. 

lie  be!()ng(!d  to  a  shi[i's  crew  wlio  liad  beer,  wrecked 
on  the  coast,  and  -was  the  only  survivor  of  the  niuubej-, 
exce})t  CiiU'i'i'ei'o.  The  rest  had  died  from  disease  and 
overwork,  or  had  been  sacrifu'ed  to  the  idols  of  the  coun- 
try. Aguilar  had  been  "reserved  for  a  future  occasion 
by  reason  of  his  Leanness,"  and  succeeded  in  escaping 
to  another  tiilte  and  another  master, 

Cortez  sailed  \\  itli  his  fleet,  from  Cozumel,  for  the  river 
Tabasco,  which  was  reached  on  the  loth  of  March,  1519. 
Urging  their  way  nguinst  the  current,  in  the  boats  and 
smaller  craft — for  the  jirincipal  vessels  were  left  at  anchor 
neai'  tlie  mouth — the  wliole  armament  entereil  the  stream. 
As  tlii'v  advanced,  the  Spaniards  ])eroeived  great  l>odies 
of  Imlians,  in  canoe.'",  and  on  both  banks,  Avhose  outcries 
were  interpreted  by  Aguilar  to  be  expressions  of  hostility 
and  (li'iiance.  Night  came  on  before  any  attack  was  made 
on  cilher  side.  Next  morning,  the  armament  recom- 
menced its  })rogress,  in  the  foi'in  of  a  crescent:  the  men, 
protected  as  well  as  ]K)ssible  l)y  their  shields  antl  ((nilted 
mail.  Were  ordered  to  keeji  siliMice,  and  oiler  no  violence 
until  ordered.  Aguilar,  who  undei'stood  the  language  of 
these  Indians,  was  connaissioned  to  exjilain  the  friendly 
purposes  of  his  eom])anions,  and  to  warn  tlie  natives  of 


tl 


le  conseiiuenees  that  would  resu 


lit  fn 


m:  their  opposition 


Th  •  In.l 


lans,  Av 


ith  siirns  of  yreat  fiirv  and  violence,  refused 


to  listen  t( 


iim. 


or  to  grant  jiermissioii  to  the  l^paniards 
to  supply  themselves  with  wood  and  wa'cr. 

'^i'he  eii;i:agement  conmienced   bv  a  shower  of  arrow;, 


from  the  canoes  on  the  riv 


er,  aijii  an  iiMnn'tise  mn 


Ititiak 


ojjposed  the  landing  of  the  ti'ot)ps.  Numbers  and  bravery 
could  not,  however,  avail  against  the  European  skill  and 
imj)lements  of  warfare.     Those  in  the  canoes  were  easily 


iL 


iiii 

poweij 
and  sj 

cliorejl 
I  sertedf 
Taliasi 
He  exl 
whosel 
abusecj 
of  tl 


lei 


,11' 

■I  I!; 


""^w. 


'*!Si, 


of  liis  old 
er  tbe  tat- 

;r.  -wrecked 
le  muu\)eT, 
litiease  and 
f  the  coiin- 
rc  occasion 
in  escaping 

I 
ov  the  liver   j 

Utrch,  151.9.   1 

c  boats  and 

.^ft  at  anchor 

L  the  stream. 

oTcat  bodies 

luse  outcries 

.s  of  liostility 

vk  was  made 

iiKMit   rcconi- 

nt:  the  men, 

:4  and  quihed 

r  no  Yii)lenee 

ij  hmguage  of 

ihe  iVienilly 

lie  natives  of 
'ir  oppt^silion. 
)leuce,  refused 

the  Spaniards 

vver  of  arrowb 
use  multitude 
>rs  and  bravery 
ipean  skill  ami 
oes  were  easily 


ABORIGINES  OF  MEXICO. 


63 


driven  off,  and,  notwithstanding  the.  difTicultics  of  a  wet 
and  marshy  shore,  where  thousands  of  the  cneniy  lay  v^on- 
cealed  to  spring  upon  them  unawares,  the  Spanish  forces 
made  their  way  to  the  to^\'n  of  Tabasco,  driving  tlie  In- 
dians into  the  fortress,  or  dispensing  them  in  the  forest. 
Tabasco  was  protected  in  the  ordinary  Indian  style,  by 
strong  palisades  of  trees,  a  narrow  and  crooked  entrance 
being  left. 

Cortez  immediately  attacked  the  town,  and,  by  firing 
through  the  palisades,  his  troops  soon  drove  in  the  bow- 
men who  were  defending  them,  and  after  a  time,  got  coin- 
l)lete  jiossession. 

The  town  was  obstinately  defended,  even  after  the  Span- 
iards had  ellectcd  an  entrance.  Tlie  enemy  retreated  be- 
hind a  second  barricade,  " fronting "  the  troops,  "valiantly 
wliistling  and  shouting  'al  ealachioni,'  or  'kill  tlie  cap- 
tain.'" They  were  linally  overpowered,  and  fled  to  tiie 
woods. 


CHAPTER    II. 


GREAT    BATTLES  WITH  THE   NATIVES — CONCILIATOnV 
INTEncoUKSE — DONNA  MAUINA. 

Hitherto  a  blind  superstition,  by  wliich  supernatural 
powers  were  ascribed  to  the  whites,  had  quelled  the  vigoi 
and  spirit  of  the  Indians,  but  an  iutcipreter  named  Mel- 
cliorejo,  whom  Corteii  liad  brought  over  fron.  Cuba,  de- 
serted from  the  Spaniards  during  the  first  night  spent  in 
Tabasco,  and  urged  the  natives  to  another  engagement. 
He  ex])lain(Ml  the  real  nature  of  the  mysterious  weajions 
wli(«ellash  and  thunder  had  creatxMl  such  terror,  and  dis- 
abused the  simple  savages  of  the  ideas  entertained  by  them 
of  the  in\ulnerablo  nature  of  their  foes.     They  proved  in 


Pn 


"'^ 


i 


64 


INDIAN  KaCES  of  AMERICA. 


tlio  subsequent  battles  much  more  dangeror.s  opponents 
tliau  before.  The  narrator  mentions,  with  no  little  satis- 
fiietion,  the  fate  of  this  deserter.  His  new  allies,  it  seems, 
"being  vanquished  a  second  lime,  revenged  themselves  on 
the  adviser  of  the  war,  by  making  him  a  miscra  jle  sacri- 
liee  to  their  idols." 

All  was  as  still,  upon  the  succeeding  day,  as  if  the  coun- 
liy  was  abandoned  by  its  inhabitants,  but  a  party  of  one 
hundred  men,  on  a  scout,  was  suddenly  surrounded  and 
attacked  by  such  hordes  of  the  enemy,  that  they  mJght 
have  l)een  cut  ofl'from  sheer  fatigue,  but  for  another  coui- 
])any  which  came  to  their  assistance.  As  the  Spaniards 
ondeavored  to  retreat  to  the  camp,  the  Indians  would  itish 
i;[)()n  tlicui  in  full  force,  "  wlio,  immediately  u]i<)n  their 
facing  about,  got  out  of  their  reach,  retiring  with  tlie  same 
swiftness  that  thev  were  attacked;  the  motions  of  this 
great  multitude  of  barbarians  from  one  side  to  another, 
resembling  the  rolling  of  the  sea,  whoso  waves  are  driven 
back  bv  the  wind." 

Two  of  the  S]ianirrds  were  kille<l  and  eleven  wounded 
in  the  fray:  of  the  Indians,  eighteen  were  seen  lying  dead 
on  the  field,  and  several  prisoners  were  taken.  I'roni  these 
Cortez  learned  that  tribes  IVom  all  sides  were  galhered^to 
assist  those  of  Tabasco  in  a  general  engagement  jilanned 
i'or  the  next  day,  and  he  accordingly  made  the  most  dili- 
gent preparation  to  receive  them.  The  hors(>s  wei-e  brought 
on  shore,  and  care  Avas  taken  tc;  icstorc!  their  animation, 
subdued  by  confinement  on  board  shij). 

As  soon  as  day  broke.  Mass  was  said,  and  the  little  army 
was  put  in  motion  to  advance  u[)on  the  enemy,  '^riiey 
were  discovered  marshalled  on  the  vast  plain  of  Cintia, 
in  such  numbers  that  it  was  impossibh;  to  compute  them, 
They  exteiuled  so  far,  says  Solis,  "that  the  sight  could  not 
reach  to  sec  the  end  of  them."  The  Indian  warriors  were 
painted  and  plumed,  their  arms  were  bows  and  arrows, 


WOUlJ 

of  dcj 

and  ,s| 

Lo{i 

underf 

field  (I 


pponcnts 
ttlc  satis- 
it  seems, 
irielves  on 
i)lc  sacri- 

tlie  coun- 
rty  of  one 
indcd  and  jl 
hey  m^'j\^t 
other  coui- 
Spaniards 


iipon 


their 


thtiiesanio,   ; 
oiis  of  tliis 
to  another, 
s  are  driven 

en  -wounded 
lyin<;5  dead 
Vroin  these 
(fathered  to 

I,. lit  phdined 
ic  most  dili- 
vcvehronalit 
r  [uiimation, 

u!  httle  army 
u-uiy.  They 
liu  of  Cintia, 
.mpnte  them. 
,rlit  eouhl  not 
warriors  were 
iind  arrows, 


ABORIGINES  OF  MEXICO. 


65 


slings,  darts,  chibs  armed  with  sharj)  flints,  and  heavy 
wooden  swords.  The  bodies  of  the  IcadeT-s  were  protected 
by  quilted  coats  of  eott-  n,  and  they  bore  .sliields  of  tor- 
toise-shell or  wood,  mounted,  in  some  instances,  with  gold. 

To  the  sound  of  rude  drums,  and  tlie  blast  of  sea-shells 
and  large  flutes,  the  vast  crowd  fell  furiously  upon  the 
Spaniards,  and  although  checked  by  their  more  eflieient 
weapons,  only  retired  to  a  convenient  distance  for  hurling 
stones  and  discharging  arrows.  The  field-pieces  mowed 
them  down  by  hundreds,  but  concealing  the  havoc  by  rais- 
ing clouds  of  (lust,  and  closing  up  their  ranks  with  shouts 
of  "ala — lala"'  (the  precise  sound  of  the  Turkish  war-cry, 
viz:  a  constant  rcpgi-ition  of  tlic  word  Allah),  they  held 
their  gvotind  with  the  most  determined  courage. 

The  little  handful  of  cavalry,  which,  led  by  Cortcz  in 
pei-son,  had  made  a  detour  to  avcjid  a  marsh,  now  fell  upon 
the  Indians  iVom  a  new  quarter,  and,  riding  through  and 
through  tiic  crowded  mass  of  savages,  so  bewildered  and 
anui/ed  them,  that  they  fled  in  dismay.  No  such  animal 
as  tiie  horse  had  ever  before  been  seen  by  them:  they 
t()ok  the  monsters,  says  D\t\z,  for  centaurs,  supposing  the 
horse  and  his  rider  to  be  one. 

On  the  field  of  battle^  as  tiie  conquerors  passed  over  it, 
lay  more;  than  eight  hundrc-d  dead  or  des])crately  wounded. 
l)Ut  two  of  llie  Spaniards  were  killed,  although  seventy 
of  tlieir  inmd)er  were  wounded  at  the  first  rush  of  the 
barbarians. 

The  vi(!tors  having  rendered  thanks  "to  God  and  to  our 
Lady,  his  blessed  Mother,"  for  tlieir  success,  dressed  their 
wounds,  and  those  of  the  invaluable  horses,  witli  the  fat 
of  dead  Indians,  and  retired  to  refresh  themselves  by  food 
and  sleep. 

Lopez  de  Gomara  affirms  that  one  of  the  holy  a])Ostles, 
under  the  form  of  Francisco  de  Morla,  appeared  ii])ont!ie 
field  during  this  bloody  engagement,  and  turned  the  scale 
5 


i  '  1 


;iJ  ir'l 


"»SlK 


I 


$ 


I! 


0, 


68 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMKKICA. 


of  victory.  Diaz  says:  "Tt  rni^lit  be  the  cfise,  and  I,  sin- 
ner JUS  I  jun,  was  not  jjerniilted  t(j  see  it.  Wliat  1  did  see 
wixa  Francisco  de  Moi-la,  in  company  with  Cortez  and  the 
rest  poll  a  "  csnat  horse — But  althou<^di  I,  unworthy  sin- 
ner ■;:•■,  '  ii,  wii.^  unlit  to  behohl  eitlier  of  those  holy 
apos^U..,-,  uj  vw,,.ds  of  four  liundred  of  us  were  present;  let 
their  tc-''.  •.oay  be  taken,"  JIc  adds,  that  he  never  heard 
of  the  incident  ii,     '  he  read  of  it  in  Cioniara's  history. 

Several  prisoners  were  taken  in  tliis  battle,  among  them 
two  who  appeared  to  be  of  t'^  perior  rank.  These  were 
dismissed  with  presents  and  favors,  to  carry  proixtsals  of 
]icace  to  their  friends.  The  result  was  highly  satisfactory: 
lifteen  slaves,  with  blaekene(l  faces  und  ragged  attire  "in 
token  of  contrition,"  carnc  bi'inging  ollerings.  Permission 
was  given  to  bury  and  burn  the  bodies  of  those  who  li'll 
in  the  terrible  slaughter,  that  they  might  not  bi-  devoured 
by  wild  beasts  ("Jjyons  and  Tygers"  according  to  'Maz). 
'J'his  duty  accomplished,  ten  of  tlie  caciques  and  jtriiu-ipal 
men  made  their  appearance,  chul  in  robes  of  state,  and 
expressed  desire  for  peace,  excusing  their  hostility,  as  the 
result  of  bad  advice  ironi  their  neighbors  and  the  persua- 
.sion  of  the  renegade  whom  they  hail  sacrificed.  Corlcv. 
took  })ains  to  impress  them  with  ideas  of  his  power  and 
the  greatness  of  the  monarch  he  served  ;  lie  ordered  the 
artillery  to  be  di.^charged,  and  one  of  the  mo.st  sjtiritcd  of 
the  horses  to  be  brought  into  the  reception-room :  "  it  being 
so  contrived  that  he  should  show  himself  to  the  greatest 
advantage,  liis  apparent  fierceness,  and  his  action,  struck 
the  natives  with  awe." 

Many  more  chiefs  cainc  in  on  the  following  day,  bring- 
ing the  usual  presents  of  little  goM  tignres,  th(>  material 
of  wliich  came,  they  said,  fn.an  "Culchua,"  and  ironi  "Mex- 
ico," words  not  yet  familiar  to  the  ears  of  the  Spaniards. 

Twenty  women  were,  moreover,  offered  as  j)re.sents,  and 
gladly  received  by  Cortez,  who  bestowed  one  upon  each 


I 


.n«l  I,  sin-    , 
,  I  (lid  sec   j 
7.  and  the    j 
rortliy  sin-   ' 
iUose  luAy 
resent;  let 
over  heard 
history, 
nong  them 
rhcse  wore 
iroi^uMvls  of 
;alis(iU'U>ry. 
d  attire  "in 
Permission 
ose  wlio  I't'ii 
he  devoured 
njr  to  'Muz). 
,11(1  prineipnl 
)f  state,  and 
utility,  us  the 
1  tlie  jiersmi- 
eed.     (NTtez 
s  power  uud 

ordered  the 
ist  si'irited  of 
)in:  "it being 

)  tl>e  greatest 
aetion,  struck 


jT  duy,  l)ving- 
tlie  material 

llrom"Mcx- 

,0  j^paniurds. 
presents,  aim 

no  upon  each 


ABORIGINES  OF  MEXICO. 


67 


of  Ills  oflTiccrs.  Tliey  were  all  duly  hapti/ed,  and  liad 
the  ])leasure  of  listenin<5toa  discourse  upon  the  mysteries 
of  his  faith,  delivered  for  their  esj)ecial  beuelit  hy  Fatlier 
llartholoTucw,  the  sj)iritutd  guide  of  the  invaders.  Know- 
ing nothing  of  the  lanj^'aago,  and  having  no  competent 
inttM'preter,  it  probably  made  no  very  vivid  iinjm'ssion, 
l)ut  these  captives  were  set  down  as  the  first  Ciiristian 
women  of  the  country. 

Among  them  was  one  young  woman  of  rcmarkaljle 
beauty  and  intelligence,  whom  the  Spaniards  christened 
Marina.  Slio  was  said  to  be  of  royal  parentage,  but,  fronv 
]iarental  cruelty,  or  the  fortunes  of  war,  had  l)eeu  held  in 
slaverv  at  a  settlement  on  the  borders  of  Yucatan,  where 
a  Mexican  fort  Avas  established,  and  afterwards  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  Tabasean  cacique.  Slie  .spoke  both  the 
Mexican  languuge,  and  that  common  to  Yucatan  and 
Taba.sco,  so  that  Cortez  was  able,  by  means  of  her  and 
Aguilar,  to  communicate  with  the  inhabitants  of  the 
interior,  through  a  double  interpretation,  until  Marina  had 
mastered  the  Spani.sh  tongue.  She  accompanied  Cortez 
throughout  his  eventful  career  in  Mexico,  and  had  a  .son 
by  him,  who  was  made,  says  Soli.s,  "a  Knight  of  St,  Jago, 
in  consideration  of  the  Nobility  of  liis  brother's  birth.'' 
liefore  this  coimeetion  she  had  been  bestowed  by  the  com- 
mander upon  one  Alonzo  Puerto  Carrero,  until  his  depart- 
ure for  Castile. 


• 


'^ 


68 


INDIAN  HACKS  OF  AMKHICA. 


CIIAl'TEU  III. 

COMMUNICATIONS    WIT>I    TIIK    MF.XICAN    i:?IPEROR — THE 
ZKMl'O ALLANS    AM)    QUIAVISTLANS. 

"TIkih  too  (lost  purfTo  from  r;irtli  its  liorrihl'.' 
And  old  idoliitrits; — t'roiii  tlii'ir  pnmd  laiioB 
Eiii'h  to  Ills  ifriive  tlicir  i)n,'sts  jro  out,  till  iioiiu 
Is  left  to  ti'iu'li  their  worsliipl' 

]5i:vant's  llijnv.  lo  l)i',ilh. 

BKl''OltK  liis  (Icpiirtnre  from  Tiiljasco,  Cortcz  ami  liis 
])iiest  inatle  strenuous  oflorts  to  c>\i)laiii  the  principles  of 
liis  religion  to  the  chiefs  autl  their  ])e()j»le.  This,  iiuleed, 
seems  really  to  have  been  a  purpose  ni)permost  in  his 
heart  throughout  th.o  whole  of  liis  bloody  camjtaign;  but, 
as  may  well  be  supi)osed,  the  subject  was  too  abstrat't,  too 
novel,  and  too  little  ca])able  of  pr(.)ols  which  a]tp(\d  to  the 
senses  and  inclinations,  to  meet  with  much  favor.  "They 
only  complied,"  says  Solis,  "as  men  that  were  subdued, 
being  more  inclined  to  leceive  another  (Jod  than  to  part 
witli  any  of  their  own.  They  hearkeiieil  with  j)leasure, 
and  seemed  desirous  to  comjjrehend  what  they  heard:  but 
reason  was  no  sooner  admitted  by  the  will  than  it  was 
rejected  by  the  uiKh'rstanding."  They  acknowledged 
that  "this  must,  indeed,  Ijc  a  gri'ut  G(^d,  to  whom  such 
valiant  men  show  so  much  respect." 

i-'rom  the  river  Tabasco  the  fleet  saileil  direct  for  San 
Juan  de  L'lua,  where  they  were  no  sooner  moored  than 
two  large  ])iraguas  with  a  number  of  Indians  on  board 
came  boldly  alongside.  By  the  interpretation  ol'^rarina, 
Corte/ learned  that  these  came  in  behalf  of  Pitalpito(pie 
and  Tendilc,  Governor  and  Captain  of  tlic  district,  under 
Montejcuma,  to  in(piire  as  U)  his  purposes,  and  to  make 
offers  of  friendshi])  and  lussistancc.     The  messengers  were 


f' 


-THE 


hath. 

Ills,  iiulced, 
I  lost  in  his 
paign;  l)ut>  j 
abstract,  too 
pneal  to  the 
or.  "TUey 
•e  suh(hu'<l, 

Kill    lo    IKU't 

tU  ploasuiv, 

licanl:  hvit 

than  it  was 

kiiowkHlgi'tl 

whom  such 


I 

im 

lllS 


r.'ct  for  San 
,orcd  than 
on  hoard 
on  of  Marina, 
Pitalpitoquo 
aislrict,  umlor 
ami  to  make 
,'sscngcrs  were 


AllORlGIN'HS  OF  MEXICO. 


69 


handsomely  entertained,  and  dismissed  witli  a  few  pres- 
ents, trilling  in  tliemsclves,  but  of  inestimable  vuhio  in 
their  unskilful  eyes. 

As  the  tro<)])s  lamled,  Tendilc  sent  great  numbers  of  hi.<? 
men  to  assist  in  erecting  huts  for  their  accommodation;  a 
si'rviec  Avhieh  was  rendered  with  remarkable  dexterity 
and  ra})idity. 

On  the  morning  of  Easter-day,  the  two  great  officera 
came  to  the  camp  with  a  lordly  company  of  attendants. 
Not  to  be  outdone  in  para<le,  Cortez;  marshalled  his  sol- 
diers, and  having  conducted  the  chiefs  to  the  rude  chapel, 
Mass  was  said  with  due  ceremony.  Tic  then  feasted  them, 
and  opened  negotiations  by  telHng  of  his  great  sovereign, 
Don  Carlos,  of  Austria,  (Charles  tlic  Fifth,)  and  express- 
ing a  desire  to  hold  communion  in  his  behalf  with  the 
mighty  Kmpcror  Munte/iUma. 

^riiis  })ropositiou  met  with  little  favor.  Tendilc  urged 
him  ti)  aceejit  the  presents  of  {ilumed  oHton  mantles,  gold, 
kc.,  which  they  had  brought  to  oiler  him,  and  depart  in 
))eaee.  Diaz  says  that  the  Indian  eonnnander  expr(\ssed 
liaughty  astonishment  at  the  Spaniard's  presumption. 
Cortez  told  them  liiat  he  was  fully  resolved  not  to  leave 
the  country  without  obtaining  an  audience  from  the  em- 
])cror;  but,  to  quiet  the  apprehension  and  disturbance  of 
the  Indians,  he  agreed  to  wait  until  a  message  could  bo 
sent  to  tlio  court  and  an  answer  returned,  before  com- 
nieueing  further  operations, 

I'ainters,  whose  skill  Diaz  enlarges  upon,  now  set  to 
work  to  dei)iet  iipou  rolls  of  cloth,  the  portraits  of  Cortez 
and  his  olficers,  the  aspect  of  the  army,  the  arms,  and 
other  furniture,  the  smoke  poured  forth  from  the  cannon, 
and,  above  all,  the  horses,  whose  "obedient  fierceness" 
struck  them  with  astonishment.  These  representations 
were  for  the  benefit  of  Montezuma,  that  he  might  learn 
more  clearly  than  he  could  by  verbal  report,  the  nature 


M^xtrnu 


70 


INHIAX  HACKS  OP  AAfKFlTOA. 


of  lii^  novel  visitants.  IJy  the  niosson^^orfl,  Corto;^  sent, 
us  a  T'Dval  ]ir('S(>nt,  a  crimson  velvet  cap,  with  a  gold 
nu'fjiil  upon  it,  some  ornaments  of  cut  glass,  and  a  chair 
of  tapestry. 

Pitalpito((ne  now  settled  himself,  with  a  trrent  eoTnf)any 
of  his  jK'opli',  in  a  temporary  collection  of  huts,  built  in 
the  innn(vliate  vicinity  of  the  Spanish  camji,  while  ']\\n- 
dile  attended  to  the  delivery  of  the  message  to  his  mon- 
arch. Diaz  says  that  ]u\  went  to  the  royal  court,  at  the 
city  of  Mexico,  in  pei'son,  being  renowned  for  liis  swift- 
ness of  II>ot;  but  tlie  more  probubU;  account  is  that  he 
availed  liimself  of  a  regular  system  of  couriers,  cstal)lished 
over  the  more  important  routes  througlmut  tlu;  empire. 
However  this  may  be,  an  answer  wa.s  rcturne(l  in  seven 
day.s'  time,  the  distance  bi-tween  Mc^xieo  and  San  -luan 
being  sixty  leagues,  by  the  shortest  road. 

With  the  in(\ssenger  returned  a  great  ollicer  of  the 
court,  named  Quintalbor.  who  bore  a  ino,-;t  striking  resem- 
blance to  forte/,  and  oih'  huiidn-d  dther  lhili;ms,  loadeil 
with  gifts  lor  the  Spaiiianls.  J-iscorted  by  'rendile,  tlie 
cndiassy  arrived  at  the  camp,  and,  aftiM'  perf()rming  the 
usual  cercMuony  of  solemn  salutations,  by  burning  incense. 
Sec,  the  Mexieiui  lords  I'aused  mats  to  be  spreail,  and  dis- 
played the  gorgeous  j^rescnts  they  had  brought. 

These  consisted  of  beautifully  wo\'en  coMon  cloths; 
ornamental  work  in  feathers,  so  skilfiillv  exeeuleil  that 
the  figures  I'cpresented  had  all  the  eil'ect  of  a  juiinting; 
a  quantity  of  gold  in  its  rough  state;  images  wrought  or 
cast  in  gold  of  various  animals;  and,  above  all,  two  huge 
jilates,  one  of  gold,  the  other  of  silver,  faneifully  (diased 
and  end)Ossed  to  represent  the  sun  and  moon.  Diaz  .savs 
tbat  the  golden  sun  was  of  the  si/e  of  a  carriage  wl 
and  that  the  silver  plate  was  still  larger. 

ProHering  these  rich  tcjkens  of  gO(jd  will,  totxell 


lecl 


lerwnli 
numerous  minor  articles,  the  chiefs  delivered  their  nion- 


ine 
liis 
ovUt 

ami 

porai 

T 

visi( 

stoi'e 

honi( 

same 

ses,  II 


% 


'ic'A  sent, 
\\  a  gold 
(\  a  cliair 


company 
a,  \)uilt  in 
.vliilr  TiMi- 
I  his  inoM- 
,urt,  at  tli(5 
•  him  swil't-   1 

is  lliat  lie   j 
C8tal)lif^l^«^1   j 
tho  oinpirc.   ' 
.(1  in  seven 
\  San  Juan 


iVu'or  "f  tho 
ikin,!/  rt'scni- 
li;itis.  loaded 
TriKliU',  tiio 
orminjj;  the 
iii<_r  iiu'cnsc, 
vw\,  and  (lis- 
ht. 

iitou  clotii^; 

•  xirilU'd  tliat 
I'  :i  jmiiitin!-'-; 
cs  wroujflit  or 
.,11,  i\v()  ha>ro 
.•il'iiUy  chascil 
,11.  Diaz  says 
■arriago  whucl, 

toLTcthcr  with 
;red  their  mon- 


AUOIUOINKS  OF  MKXICO. 


71 


ttrch's  mission.  A('0()trii)atiit'(l  hy  cvory  oxprossion  of 
j^ood  will,  his  rc'Ciisiil  was  (hrlarcil  to  allow  the  stran^'orn 
to  visit  his  court.  Jiad  roads  and  hoslilc  tril)es  wore 
alh',i,'('il  to  coiistiliitc  insniKTalilc  dilUcultii's,  Ixit  it  wa.s 
liiiited  Ihattnoiv  important,  thoii.iih  inicNplainablo  reasons 
e.vistcd  why  tlnj  interview  conld  not  take  jduce. 

Cortc/,  coiiitconsly,  Imt  (irmly,  jtcrsistcil  in  his  (h'ter- 
niinatioii,  and  disu.issi'd  the  anil)assa(U)rs  with  renewed 
,L^i('ls;  expressinji;  himself  eontiMit  to  await  yet  another 
messa;4e  from  Montezuma,  lie  said  that  lie  eould  not, 
without  dishonoring  llio  king  his  master,  return  before 
having  ])er.^onal  (lommunieatiou  \\'ith  the  einperor. 

lie,  meantime,  sent  a  detaehment  further  n\)  tlie  coast, 
with  two  vessels,  to  seek  for  a  more  convenient  aiul 
li(>altliy  place  of  encampment  than  the  burning  plain  t)f 
Siind  uliei'e  tlit^  army  was  now  ipiartei'ed. 

^^ontczut^a  pcrsi.^ted  in  objections  to  the  advance  of 
the  Spaniards,  and  Cortcfz  being  etpcilly  inunovablc  in 
his  (h'teiiiiinatioii  to  proceed,  the  IVieiidly  interconr.-^c  hith- 
erto maintained  Ijctwcen  the  natives  and  their  guests  now 
c(>;ise(L  'I'endile  took  his  leave  with  some  ominous  threats, 
and  l'ital|)itoque  with  his  people  departed  from  their  tem- 
jiorarv  domiciles. 

The  sol'liers,  cut  olf  IVoui  t'leir  I'ormer  su]>[>lics  of  pro- 
vision, and  seeing  nothing  bi;t  ihinger  and  pi'ivatioii  i;i 
store  for  them,  began  to  rebel,  -ind  to  talk  of  returning 
home.  Corte/i  checked  this  iiK^NCiiiciit  by  ju'ecisi'lv  the 
same  policy  that  was  resorted  to  by  Agamemnon  and  lllvs- 
ses,  under  sonunvhat  si  lilar  circumstances,  as  will  be  found 
at  large  in  the  second  Ufok  of  the  J/ini/^  line  110  rt  .scq. 

Ho  seemed  to  assent  to  the  arguments  of  the  spokesman 
of  the  malcontents,  and  proceeded  to  proclaim  his  purpose 
of  making  sail  for  Cuba,  be*^,  in  the  meantime,  engaged 
the  most  trusty  of  his  friends  to  excite  a  contrary  feeling 
:'  among  the  troops.     The  effort  was  signally  successful :  the 


h 


72 


IXDIAX  RACKS  OF  AMERICA. 


'■* 


coinmnndor  graciously  coiisontod  to  remain,  and  lead  tlicm 
to  furtlier  conquesis,  cxj>ro.ssiiig  his  great  satisfaction  in 
fuuliug  them  of  sueh  bold  and  determined  spirit. 

About  this  time,  Bernal  Diaz  and  another  sentinel  being 
stationed  on  the  beach,  at  some  distance  fi'om  tlie  camjt, 
})erceived  five  Indians  (jf  a  different  a])2)earance  from  any 
hitlierto  seen,  apjiroaeliing  them  upon  the  level  sands, 
Diaz  conducted  them  to  the  general,  who  learned,  by 
^Marina's  interpretation,  that  they  came  in  behalf  of  tlie 
cacique  of  Zemj^oala,  or  Cempoal,  to  proffer  ihe  services 
of  their  king  and  his  jieople.  This  tribe  held  the  Mexi- 
cans in  great  fear  and  detestation,  and  rejoiced  in  the 
op})ortmiity  now  presented  for  attempting  some  retaliation 
for  former  oppressions  and  injuries. 

The  exploring  expedition  had  discovered  a  desirable 
location,  at  the  town  of  Quiavistlan,  a  few  leagues  north 
of  the  encampment,  and  Cortez  concluded  to  move  thither 
immediatel)'.  Before  taking  i'lirther  steps,  he  established 
himself  more  Hrniiy  in  command  by  resigning  his  commis- 
sion under  Vahxsqiie/,  and  taking  the  vote  of  his  followers 
as  to  whether  he  should  be  their  cajjtain.  This  being  settled 
to  his  satisfaction,  he  marched  for  Quiavistlan,  ])assing  the 
river  at  the  spot  where  Vera  Cruji  was  afterwards  built. 

Zemjioalla  lay  in  his  route,  and  there  the  arm}'-  was 
tnet  by  a  deputation  from  die  cacique,  he  being  too  cor- 
[)ulent  to  come  in  person.  Sweet-smelling  flowers  were 
offered  as  tokens  of  friendship  to  the  Spanish  officers. 
The  town  was  well  built,  and  ornamented  with  shade- 
trees.  The  inhaliitants  collected  in  innumerable  but  or- 
derly crowds  to  witness  the  entrance  of  the  cavalcade. 
The  "lilt  cacique"  entertained  his  guest.s  handsomely, 
making  grievous  complaints  of  the  oppressions  and  exac- 
tions suffered  by  him  and  his  tribes  at  the  hands  of  Mon- 
tezuma's officers,  lie  had  been  subdued  by  the  great 
emperor,  and  was  now  his  unwilling  tributary. 


1  L. 


scttlotl 


ABOUIGINES  OF  MEXICO. 


73 


Quiavistlan  wtis  situated  upon  a  rocky  eminence,  up 
wliich  the  army  advanced,  prepared  to  crush  any  opposi- 
tion on  tlie  part  of  the  inhabitants.  Tlicse,  however,  had 
mostly  fled  from,  their  hon^cs  on  the  approach  of  the  S])an- 
iards.  In  the  principal  square,  Cortez  was  met,  and  saluted 
with  the  usual  fumigations  of  incense,  by  fifteen  of  the 
chief  men  of  the  town.  They  excused  the  timidity  of 
their  people,  and  promised  that  they  should  immediately 
return,  as  no  injuries  were  intended  by  the  strangers. 

They  came  accordingly;  the  chiefs,  together  with  the 
corpulent  cacique  of  Zcmpoalla,  being  borne  upoii  litters. 
All  united  in  lamentations  over  the  cruel  state  of  degra- 
dation and  servitude  to  which  they  •\vcrc  subjected  by  the 
tyrant  Montezuma,  lie  ijlundered  them  of  their  treasures, 
seized  and  carried  away  their  wives  and  daughters,  aiul 
sacrificed  no  small  number  of  them  to  his  gods. 

While  they  were  3'et  consulting  and  beseeching  assist- 
ance from  the  Spaniards,  the  whole  conclave  was  stricken 
with  terror  by  the  intelligence  of  the  arrival  of  live  royal 
emissaries  or  tax-gatherers.  These  stately  personages,  to 
whom  the  Quiavistlans  hastened  to  minister  with  criiio-in<r 
servility,  did  not  even  condescend  to  bestow  a  look  upon 
the  Spanish  oiheers.  -'They  Avere  dressed,"  says  Diaz, 
"in  mantles  elegahtly  wrought,  and  drawers  of  tlic  same, 
their  hair  shining,  and,  as  it  were,  tied  at  the  top  of  tlie 
head,  and  each  of  them  had  in  his  hand  a  buneli  of  roses, 
which  he  occasionally  smelt  to.  They  were  attended  by 
servants,  who  fanned  tliem,  and  each  of  whom  carried  a 
cord  and  a  hooked  stick." 

Calling  the  caciques  before  them,  these  dignitaries  re- 
buked them  for  entertaining  Ibrcigners,  who  disregarded 
the  expressed  will  of  the  emperor,  and,  as  a  punishment 
lor  the  contcnnpt,  demanded  twenty  victims  for  sacrifice. 
Cortez,  being  informed  of  this,  advised  the  seizure  and 
imprisonment  of  tliese  emissaries  until  re^wrtof  tlieireru- 


i 


f. 


}s»H 


•■11 


74 


INDIAX  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


cities  and  insolence  could  be  made  to  tlieir  master.  The 
caciques,  accustomed  to  submission,  were  at  first  horror- 
striclcen  at  the  proposal,  but  Cortez  persisting  boldly  and 
confidently  in  his  opinion,  they  went  to  the  other  extreme. 
Tho  five  magnates  were  ])laced,  says  Solis,  "in  a  kind  of 
J'illories,  used  in  their  Prisons,  and  very  incommodious; 
for  they  held  tlie  deliiif(uents  by  the  neck,  obliging  them 
continujilly  to  do  the  utmost  with  their  shoulders  to  ease 
the  weight,  for  the  freedom  of  breathing."  "  One  of  them, 
also,  being  refractory,  was  beaten  soundly." 

The  exuUant  Quiavisthms  would  have  gone  still  farther, 
and  made  a  sjux'dy  end  of  their  prisoners,  had  not  Cortez 
interfered.  Not  willing  to  give  immediate  offence  to  Mon- 
tiv.uma,  but  desirous  of  being  in  coniiition  at  ;iiiy  juoment 
to  ])ii'k  a  qunrrel,  or  to  claim  the  rewards  and  considera- 
tion due  to  meritorious  services,  he  contrived  to  elTect  the 
csca))c  of  two  of  tht'se  lords,  chai'ging  them  to  give  him 
all  credit  for  the  act  at  their  master's  court.  To  jireserve 
the  othci'  three  from  destruetioii,  he  took  tluMn  on  1)  uird  one 
of  liis  vessels,  (the  ihvt  havi'ig  come  round  by  sea)  under 
])rct,ence  of  safe  keejiing.  lie,  none  tlie  less,  prochiimed 
to  the  caciques,  liis  allies,  that  they  should  thereafter  Ijc 
free  from  all  opjircssions  and  exactions  on  the  part  of  the 
Mexican  authorities. 

Thi>  army  was  now  set  to  work  at  tlie  foiiinlation  of  a 
permanent  fortilication  and  town.  By  the  willing  assist- 
ance of  the  natives,  the  walls  of  Vera  Cru/,  rose  ra];)idly. 
To  ex(Mte  a  si>irit  of  industry  and  emulation,  Cortez  t'om- 
menced  the  woik  of  digging  and  carrying  materials  with 
his  own  hands.  Thirty  caciques,  from  the  mountainous 
districts  of  the  Totonaques,  led  by  reports  of  Spanisli  valor 
and  virtues,  came  in  to  ofler  their  services  and  alliance. 
Their  followers  are  numbered  by  Jlerrera  (an  author  who 
speaks  too  confidently  of  particulars)  at  one  hundred  thou- 
sand men;  wild  mountaineers,  but  bold  and  efficient. 


tani 
wit 
T 
bctw 
vant 
Jiei< 
eing. 
a  tn 
assir- 
dred 
Sj  )a  n 
eiK'in 
town, 
friars 
aries 


'M. 


;er.  The 
,t  horror- 
)ldly  and 
extreme, 
a  kind  of 
modioiis; 
ing  tlicin 
•rs  to  ease 
3  of  tliem, 

,11  farther, 
lot  Cortc/i 
ec  to  Mon- 
ty moment 
considera- 
)  effeet  the 
)  o'ive  liini 
'()  ])ivserve 
il);)ardone 
sea)  under 
proelainicd 
eroafter  be 
part  of  the 


diition  of  a 
Ulii.ii:  apsist- 
ise,  ra[>idly. 
Corte/.  com- 
iterials  with 
iir)iuitainonrf 
panisli  valor 
tid  alliance, 
anthor  who 
iiidred  thou- 
ifficicnt. 


ABOllIGINf^S  OF  MEXICO. 


75 


While  all  hands  Avere  at  work  upon  the  new  town,  mes- 
sengers once  again  appeared  from  Montezuma.  His  anger, 
greatly  excited  by  the  first  reports  of  the  seizure  of  his 
officers,  liad  been  mitigated  by  the  flivorable  report  of  those 
who  had  been  allowed  to  escape;  and  he  now  sent  two  of 
his  own  nephews,  accompanied  by  four  old  lords,  and  a 
splendid  retinue.  Acknowledgments  were  m;idc  by  the 
embassy  for  the  service  rendered  by  Cortoz  in  setting  the 
two  tax-gatherers  at  liberty;  but  he  was,  at  the  same  time, 
vehemently  requested  to  leave  the  country,  and  not  hin- 
der, by  the  respect  due  to  his  presence,  the  just  punish- 
ment of  tlic  rebels  with  whom  he  was  cohabiting.  Ho 
was  adjured  not  to  dream  of  making  further  progress 
towards  the  royal  court,  "for  that  the  impcdinients  and 
dangei's  of  that  journey  were  very  great.  On  which  point 
they  enlarged  with  a  mysterious  tediousness;  this  being 
the  princi})al  point  of  their  instructions." 

(Jortez  r(>plied  that  danger  and  didieulties  would  but 
give  zest  t(>  the  adventure,  feu*  that  Spaniards  knew  no 
fear,  and  only  songht  for  glory  and  renown.  He  enter- 
tained the  ministers  handsomely,  and  dismissed  them 
with  ]M'esents. 

'I'll','  Zempoalans  thonght  that  the  friendship  cemented 
iHtw, (Ml  them  and  the  foreigners  could  not  be  tahen  ad- 
vantage i_>f  better  than  by  engaging  them  to  subdue  a 
]ieighl)oring  tribe,  whose  chief  town  was  called  ('ingapa- 
cinga.  They  tlierefore  induced  Cortez,  by  pn^tentling  that 
a  troul)le.<c»me  Mexican  garrison  was  (piartered  there,  to 
assist  iheiii  in  conquering  the  country.  AVit'i  loui'  hun- 
dred S[ianiards,  and  a  great  company  of  ZenqKialans,  the 
Sj)anish  leader  <Mitered  the  mountain  district  where  the 
enemy  Avas  to  be  sought.  As  the  army  a)iproaehed  the 
town,  eight  old  priests,  in  black  and  hooded  robes,  like 
friars,  came  out  to  deprecate  Im  ang(U'.  These  runetion- 
aries  presented,  as  usual,  the  most  disgusting  and  horrible 


L^        f| 


76 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


appcaraiico.  Their  long  liair  was  tangled  and  v3lottcd  witli 
liuman  blood,  whicli  it  was  a  part  of  tlici^'  rules  should 
never  be  washed  ofl',  and  their  persons  were  filtliy,  loath- 
some, and  oilensive  beyond  eoncejition. 

Cortcz  discovered  that  he  had  been  deceived,  as  no 
Mexicans  were  in  the  vicinity,  but  he  put  a  good  face  on 
the  matter,  and  succeeded  in  making  a  peaceable  arrange- 
ment between  the  rival  tribes. 

Eeturning  to  Zempoala,  renewed  evidence  was  brought, 
belbre  the  eyes  of  this  zealous  Catholic,  of  the  extent  to 
which  the  custom  of  human  sacrifice  was  carried;  riid 
especially  of  the  sale  anc""  consumptioi;  of  the  bodies  v'' 
the  victims  as  a  "sacred  foocL"  IFe  therefore  corivludeu 
to  |irostrato  thj  idols,  and  set  up  the  insignia  of  fciic  tru' 
rehnion.     Long  and  earnest  haranu-ues  fail'.'d  to  iivinee 

CJ  CD  O 

the  natives  'o  jierform  this  service  thems/jves :  the  v  \v  ^uld 
b(!  cut  to  pieces,  they  said,  ere  the)-  A/ould  be  'rni!  of 
such  sa(,'rilege.  The  soldiers  tlieu  broke  up  at)  i  dosirt.vr  I 
the  images,  purged  ^h<\  temples,  and,  covering  the  bl'^;Mly 
marlcs  of  })agan  wortL^.  with  lime  and  plaster,  erected  an 
altar,  and  celebrated  the  rites  of  Hatholieisin.  As  no  pro- 
digy or  signal  Vv.ngcan-':>  from  ii  ..won  followed  the  'iiida- 
cious  act,  the  pliable  natives  seemed  readily  to  fall  in  with 
the  pro})osed  change,  and,  burning  the  fragments  of  tneir 
idols,  they  ajied  tlie  jiosture  atid  formula  of  the  devout 
Spaniards.  An  old  and  partially  disabled  t:oldier,  named 
Torres,  agreed  to  remain  as  keeper  of  the  newly-conse- 
crated t''n!pl(',  on  the  di'parturc  of  the  troops. 


rp 


ottcd  with 
les  should 
thy,  loath- 

rccT,  as  no 
od  face  on 
Ic  arrange- 


ras  brought, 
e  extent,  to  \ 
jricd;    rud  i 

0  bodies  v^'  \ 
)  covivhidcMi  , 
of  tiic  tviu    ; 

1  to  iivluce 
thi  Y  v.  ^nld 

be  'ruil      i't 
ri  dostn.vrl 
V  the  bl-nxly 
r,  tM\.'Cto(.l  ail 
As  no  pTO- 
cdth-?  Mida- 
0  fall  in  wiiU 
lents  of  tiicir 
f  the  devout 
jldier,  named 
newly-conse- 

s. 


ABORIGINES  OF  MEXICO. 


77 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE    MARCH   TO    TLASCAI.A— OCCI'PATION    OF    THE   CITY— GREAT 
MAS&ACUE    AT    CHOLULA— ENTRANCE    INTO    THE    CITY    OF 

MEXICO,    AND    INTERVIEW    AVITH    MONTEZUMA 

DESCRIPTION    OF   THE    TEMPLE,    ETC. 

"What  (liviiK-  monsters,  Oli  y(^  gods,  are  these, 
Tliat  fl(,at  hi  air,  and  Uy  upon  tlie  seas! 
Came  they  alive  or  u^ad  upon  tlic  siiorel" 

Dryden. 

TiiK  bold  and  adventurous  leader  of  the  Spaniards  now 
began  to  set  in  earnest  about  his  work  of  conquest.  He 
dispatched  one  ship  direct  for  Spain,  to  obtain  a  confirma- 
tion from  the  sovereign  of  his  authority  in  New  Spain; 
and,  with  the  consent  of  most  of  his  companions,  dis- 
mantled and  sunk  the  rest  of  the  licet,  that  ail  might  l)e 
nerved  to  the  most  desperate  eilbrts  by  the  alternative 
])res(MiU'd  them  of  death  or  complete  success. 

Leaving  a  garrison  at  the  coast  settlement,  he  com- 
menced his  march  into  the  interior,  accompanied  by  a 
body  of  Zempoalans,  The  Indians  of  Jalapa,  Socochiniii, 
and  Texucla,  oflered  ihem  no  molestation,  and,  after  en- 
during great  hardships  in  the  jiassage  cf  the  rugged 
mountains,  the  army  reached  Zocothlan. 

iS'ear  the  religious  temples  of  this  town,  Diax,  ailirms, 
with  rejieated  asseverations,  that  he  saw  human  skeletons, 
so  ofderly  arranged,  that  their  numlK'rs  could  \)c  com- 
pnttMl  with  certainty,  and  that  tliey  could  not  have 
amounted  to  less  than  one  hundred  thousand.  Beside 
these  were  huge  piles  of  skidls  and  bones:  other  remnants 
of  mortality  were  hung  from  beams,  Tliree  })riests  liad 
charge  of  these  relics. 

Contrary  to  the  advice  of  the  cacique  of  this  province, 


kfm 


;'i!\j 


f 


.•SiS 


--»!» 


78 


INDIAN  llACES  OF  AMERICA. 


Cortcz  determined  to  pass  througli  the  country  of  Tlas- 
cala,  wliosc  inliabitauts  were  inimical  to  ^ronte/uina. 

Four  Zenipoalan  Indian?-",  decked  out  in  the  style  deemed 
suitable  for  ambassadors,  and  bearing  arrows,  feathered 
witli  white,  and  carried  point  downwards,  in  token  of  a 
p''aceful  mission,  were  sent  to  wait  on  the  Tlascalan 
autliorities.  They  were  received  with  respect  by  the  sen- 
ate or  chief  council,  whose  members  were  ranged  in  order, 
in  a  great  hall,  seated  ujjon  low  chairs,  eacli  made  from  a 
siugh'  block  of  some  remarkable  wood, 

(ii'cat  debate  ensued  as  to  whether  the  strangers  should 
be  i)eniiitted  to  ]^ass  through  the  country.  On  the  one 
hand,  ancient  jn'oidiecies  were  cited  of  an  invincible  race 
that  should  come  from  the  East,  The  remarkal)le  fulfil- 
ment in  the  landing  of  these  white  men,  of  many  attend- 
fint  cireunistanees  foretold,  '.•niching  the  ships,  arms,  and 
valor  of  the  invaders,  was  enlarged  upon,  and  it  was  ])ro- 
Tiounee(l  madness  to  cope  with  them.  On  the  other  hand, 
it  was  suggested  that  the  Sj)aniards  might  be  nothing  blot- 
ter than  "iiioiistei-s  flung  up  by  the  sea  upon  tlie  coast.^," 
and.  'f  not,  that  their  sacrilege  and  cruelties  Ibrbade  the 
idi\i  that  the\'  (,ould  be  other  thati  evil   and  av; 


li'lClOUS 


})arl  > 


>arians,  who  sliould  be  crushed  as  noxious  rejitiles. 

It  was  concluded  to  try  the  strength  of  the  whites,  and, 
if  they  couM  not  be  resi.^ted,  the  assault  should  be  attri- 
buted to  the  intractiliility  of  the  Ottomies,  a  nation  of 
rude  and  warlike  mountaineers. 

The  result  might  reailily  be  foreseen:  no  force,  how- 
ever overwhelming  in  numbers,  could  resist  the  iiro-arms, 
the  di.seipline,  ami  more  csj)eeially  the  horses  of  the  Span- 


iard? 


Tl 


ic-^e    aniini 


■0 


su[)eriia 


tural 


<u'   mon.strous   in 


their  imagination)"  so  terrifieil  the  Indians,  that  they  troil 
one  anotlie"  umler  foot  in  ell'orts  to  escape  from  the  rush 
of  the  little  ei>!ps  of  ca\ah\.  In  several  engagcnienti!, 
altiioULfh  uiidei  advania'ieous  circumstances,  as  in  ambin- 


yofTlas-  : 

^Ic  deemed 
,  feathered 
token  of  a 
■  Tluscalau 
by  the  seii- 
>d  in  order, 
lade  from  a 

iirors  should 
On  the  one 
ancible  race 

i-kabie  fuira- 

nany  attcnd- 
)S,  arms,  and 
d  it  Ava:^  pro- 
.,  other  hand, 
uotliin.u;  iiet- 
I  the  coasts," 
s  forbade  the 
id  avaricious 
,;s  reptiles, 
c  wliites,  and, 
3ukl  \)C  altri- 
i,  a  nation  of 

10  force,  liow- 
1,  the  lire-arms, 
>s  of  the  Span- 
monstrous  in 
,  that  they  trod 
)  from  tke  rush 
L  enira.^ements, 
is,  us  in  anil)ii-i- 


ABORIGINES  OF  MEXICO. 


79 


«! 


cades  and  night  attacks,  tlio  Tlascakins  were  routed,  and 
vast  rmmbers  of  tlieir  wai'riors  Avere  slauglitered.  Cortez, 
to  strike  farther  terror,  cut  off  tlie  liands  or  thumbs 
of  fourteen  or  iiftccn  cajjtives,  arid  sent  them  to  their 
■own  people  to  report  what  ■naruier  of  men  he  and  his 
followers  were, 

Montezuma,  hearing  of  these  successes,  sent  more  mes- 
sengers to  endeavor  to  persuade  Cortez  not  to  make  fur- 
ther advance,  and  at  the  same  time  to  obstruct  the  con- 
clusion of  a  peace  between  him  and  the  Tlascalans.  These 
eflbrts  failed  signally:  Xicotencal,  the  general  of  the 
0}ip(xsing  forces,  in  behalf  of  the  town  and  nation,  made 
an  amicable  settlement  of  difficulties  with  the  Spaniards. 

With  great  pomp  and  ceremony,  Cortez  marched  his 
army  into  the  town  of  Tlascala,  on  the  23d  of  September, 
(1519).  The  situation  of  the  place  was  rugged  and  moun- 
tainou:^,  giving  tlie  streets  great  irregularity;  but  the  build- 
ings were  substantial,  and  the  fortilications  massive.  Here 
tli(^  army  tarried  twenty  days,  and  then  marched  for  Cho- 
lula,  a  great  city,  entirely  subject  to  the  emperor.  Before 
they  set  out,  Montezuma  had  again  sent  heralds  to  an- 
nounce his  linal  consent  to  a  meeting,  and  that  quarters 
for  the  Spanish  troops  should  be  made  ready  at  Cholula. 

Several  tliousand  Tlascalans,  armed  and  e(|uij)ped,  volun- 
tarily offered  tlu'ir  services,  and  the  whole  army  reached 
Cholula  without  molestation.  Here  tlic  magnates  of  the 
town  met  tlu'in,  objecting  to  the  entrance  of  the  Indian 
allies,  as  they  had  been  enemies  of  the  nation;  and  it  was 
agreed  that  the  Spaniards  and  Zemj)oalans  alone  should 
be  quartered  in  the  city,  while  the  rest  should  encamp  in 
the  suburbs.  Here  were  seen  evidences  of  greater  wealth, 
and  higher  attainments  in  architectural  skill,  than  at  any 
l)lace  before  visiti>d.  The  catuques  ap]-)eareil  friendly,  and 
furiiislied  provisions  for  the  troojis  for  several  days;  but 
linally  discontinued  botli  their  \-isits  and  supplies.     Tkia 


I 


h 


80 


INDIAN  HACKS  OF  AMKKICA. 


aroused  the  sas])ieions  of  (Airtc/,  and  lie  determined  to 
maintain  the  utmost  vigilance. 

At  tliis  juncture  an  old  woman  of  rank  came  to  Marina, 
for  whom  she  had  contracted  great  friondsliip,  and  begged 
her  to  forsake  the  Spaniards,  and  come  to  live  with  her 
and  hor  friends.  Marina,  ever  on  the  watch  to  serve  her 
lord  and  master,  pretonck'd  compliance,  and,  by  judicious 
questions,  elicited  from  the  old  woman  all  the  particulars 
of  a  formidable  i)lol  for  the  destruction  of  the  Spaniards, 
.^[ontezuma  had  sent  twenty  thousand  men  into  the  vicin- 
ity, part  f)f  whom  were  already  secretly  brought  within  the 
walls;  })it-falls  with  sharp  stakes  at  the  bottom  had  been 
pre] )a red  in  the  jirincipal  highways  for  the  destruction  of 
the  horses;  and  stones  were  piled  on  the  roofs  of  the  houses 
to  hurl  down  upon  tlie  dcvott'd  army.  l)iaz  says:  '"'riic 
recompense  which  they  intended  for  our  holy  and  friendly 
services  was  to  kill  us  and  eat  us,  for  which  })ur])ose  the 
])ots  were  alivady  boiling,  and  prepared  with  salt,  pepper 
and  tomatas."'  Seven  human  victims  liad  been  sacriliced 
tti  [tropiliate  the  favor  of  the  gods,  and  it  was  purjiosed  to 
devote  twenty  of  the  Spaniards  to  the  same  fate,  as  soon 
as  thoy  could  be  secured. 

7\]l  these  things  were  conlirmed  by  a  searching  examin- 
ation of  some  of  the  caciques,  who,  surprised  at  the  su))er- 
natural  penetration  of  the  Sj)aniards,  confessed  the  wlioji'. 
but  attributed  it  entirely  to  Montezuma.  With  his  usual 
duplicity,  Cortez  spoke  of  this  consi)iracy  in  confkh'nce  to 
the  ambassadors  from  the  court,  pretending  that  he  had 
no  suspicion  of  the  part  M(.)ntezuma  had  taken.  lie  then 
gave  j)ublic  orders  for  marching  on  the  ensuing  day.  in 


on 


ler  t 


o  Dree  I 


pitate  the  hostile  movement,  i)ut,  attiie  sai 


111' 


ice 


time,  had  all  his  ])lans  arranged  for  battle,  and  intelligei 
conveyed  to  his  Tlasealan  troo])S  to  be  ready  to  assist  hiii 
at  the  dawning  of  day. 

"With  the  first  light  all  was  in  motion;  the  Cholulaii; 


M 


mined  to 

0  ^tarina, 
id  bc'TLTt-'d 

\vitli  lier  ,; 
serve  licr   ij 

judicious  \\ 
particulars  " 
y^paniards.    ■ ; 

1  tlu!  vicin-    ij 
^Yitlli utile    ij 
iiiadl)eeu    |1  . 
truction  of    ji 
'tlieiiouses   | 
;ays:  "'Hh;   ;; 
nd  f'rieudly    - 
)urpose  the 
salt,  pei>i'<'r 

■11  sacriliccd 
juirposed  to 
ate,  as  soon 

iiip;  .('xauiin- 
it  llie  SUIHT- 
\\\c  wliol''. 
itli  liiri  usual 
otifidence  t'' 
that  lie  had 
11.      He  thea 
,uiii,i:-  day.  in 
t,  at  the  sanii,' 
1  iutellipviu'O 
to  assist  him 

iic  Cholulai'.:^ 


:i: 


ABOKIGIN'KS  OF  MEXICO. 


81 


appointed  to  carry  the  l)aggage,  and  those  who  came  armed 
on  pretence  of  acting  as  a  guard,  but,  in  reality,  to  fall 
upon  the  rear  of  the  army,  poured  into  the  great  square. 
At  a  given  signal  from  Cortez,  a  horrible  massacre  was 
commenced,  which  continued  for  two  days.  The  Tlasca- 
lans  of  the  party,  reinforced  l)y  multitudes  from  their  own 
town,  who  came  at  the  first  news  of  the  attack,  ravaged 
and  plundered  tiie  city  with  unrestrained  barbarity.  Cor- 
tex at  last  checked  these  outrages,  and  compelling  such  of 
tlie  plunder  and  prisoners  as  lie  could  discover  to  be  deliv- 
ered up,  proclaimed  peace  and  general  amnesty.  He  set 
free  tlie  unfortunate  prisoners,  who  were  confined  in  cages 
to  be  fattened  for  sacrifice,  and  vainly  endeavored  to  con- 
vince the  priests  and  ])Cople  of  the  enormity  of  their  reli- 
L'ious  rites  and  the  truth  of  his  own  doctrines. 

Cholula  was  one  of  the  most  noted  cities  of  !^^exico, 
botli  for  its  beauty  of  situation  and  structure,  and  its  posi- 
tiou  as  the  head-quarters  of  the  religion  of  the  country. 
The  immense  hill  or  tem])lc  of  sacrifice  has  ever  been  the 
subject  of  admiration  and  astonishment  to  all  beholders. 

Montezuma  dared  no  longer  ojienly  oppose  the  advance 
( )f  the  Spaniards.  The  terror  of  their  arms  and  the  gloomy 
prognostications  of  the  priests  cowed  and  subdued  his 
spirit,  and  he  sent  messengers  with  gifts  and  invitations 
to  Cortez  to  visit  his  court.  The  general  impression  con- 
stantly gained  ground  among  tiie  Mexicans  that  these 
white  men  must  be  "Teules,"  or  supernatural  beings, 
against  whom  it  were  hopeless  openly  to  contend. 

Fourteen  days  after  the  arrival  at  Cholula,  the  army 
was  again  ]iut  in  motion.  The  Zem])oalans  were  dis- 
iiiissc(l  at  tluMr  own  rcijuest,  and  their  jilaces  were  suj)plied 
by  Tlasealans,  who  were  ready  by  thousands  to  share  the 
danger  and  profit  of  the  expedition.  On  the  march  over 
the  rough  mountainous  district  through  which  lay  their 
|)atli,  strong  l)odies  of  Mexicans  had  been  placed  in  am- 
0 


m 


ajUmk^^ 


:.?*" 


82 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


busli  ])y  tlic  order  of  the  kiiift  but  tliclr  licarts  failed  them 
on  the  approaeli  of  tlie  iiivadens.  Cortez  reai-hed  Clialco, 
near  the  imperial  city,  not  only  without  serious  ('i)position, 
but  with  his  forces  increased  by  as  many  natives  of  the 
provinces  through  which  he  passed,  as  he  chose  to  eulist 
under  Ids  banners.  Eiiehantnients  and  conjurations,  to 
which  Monte/uuia  applied  himself,  with  liis  whole  cor[)S 
of  magicians,  pi'iived  as  inelfectual  as  his  ai'inii's  to  arrest 
the  enemy.  It  was  still  Ids  purpose  and  hope,  as  the  in- 
vaders well  knew,  to  overwhelm  and  destroy  theni  at  a 
disadvantage,  when  they  should  enter  his  city. 

The  S] laniards  reached  T/.tapalapa,  on  the  great  lahe  in 
which  the  city  of  ifexico  was  built,  without  further  blood- 
shed, except  the  destruction  of  a  few  poor  Indians  who 
ap]iroachi'(l  "too  near"  the  encampmentat  Anieincca,  ])i()b- 
ably  from  motives  of  curiosity.  The  lord  of  Te/.cuco,  upon 
the  iiorfh-easiern  border  of  the  lake,  a  nephew  of  the  em- 
peror, visited  theni  on  their  route  with  .solemn  ceremony. 

Tztaimlapa  was  built  ])artly  in  the  lake,  although  the 
receding  waters  have  left  the  site  mostly  dry.  Tlie  appear- 
ance of  the  place  was  truly  Venetian.  Over  the  ]>\\w\ 
expanse  of  water  were  seen  the  towers  and  buiklings  of 
numerous  towns,  at  beholding  which,  together  with  the 
great  cau.sey  which  led  to  tlie  island  city,  the  Euro])eans, 
in  the  words  of  Diaz,  "could  comjiare  it  to  nothing  but 
the  enchanted  scenes  read  of  in  Aniadis  of  Gaul,  from  tht> 
great  towers  and  temples  and  other  edifices  of  lime  and 
stone  which  seemed  to  rise  ont  of  the  water."  "Never 
yet,"  he  adds,  "did  man  see,  hear,  or  dream  of  anything 
equal  to  the  spectacle  which,  appeared  to  our  eyes  ou 
this  day." 

The  lords  of  the  city  assigned  splendid  buildings  of 
stone  for  the  troops  to  quarter  in;  and  such  was  their 
astonishment  at  the  perfection  of  the  architectural  skill  dis- 
played in  the  palaces ;  the  beauty  of  the  gardens ;  the  alleys 


raisii 
a(lori 
g'"ld| 
the  i 

of  ill 

deniij 

Col 

nion;l 
restnl 
dee  nil 
Al 
ccedc 


■i 


le.l  them 
1  Chaleo, 
iporiition, 
cs  oi  the 
J  to  enlist 
iitions,  to 

U)lc  COl'l'S 

3  to  arrest 

as  the  in- 

tUcui  at  a 


vid  lala>  in  i 
thcr  Itldotl-  : 
idians  who  J 
larca,  prob-  j! 
^x'\m\  upon   j 

of  the  en\-    i 

(•(•reniony. 
ihouj^'li  tlio 
riie  appear- 
r  the  hroad 
)uihlin,ii'S  ot" 
rr  with  the 

Knropeuns, 
notliinii'  hut 
ml,  IVoni  tlie 
(,r  lime  and 
,.."     "Never 

of  anything 
our  eyes  on 

Luildings  of 
ell  was  their 
hiral  skill  dis- 
lis;  the  alleys 


ADOIUGINKS  OF  MKXICO. 


88 


of  fruit  and  aromatic  trees;  the  fountains,  aqueducts,  and 
nrtiricial  pools;  and  the  vast  eoiieourse  of  curious  natives, 
erowdiiig  the  street  and  causey  to  f^azo  on  the  novel 
siglit,  or  skimming  the  water  in  their  light  canoes,  that 
"to  many  it  appeared  doubtful  whether  they  were  asleep 
or  awake." 

On  the  ruorning  of  the  8th  of  Noveud)er,  lol9,  Cor- 
tc;^  led  his  followers  over  the  main  causey  into  the  impe- 
rial city.  A  great  deputation  of  nobles  and  olfiecrs  came 
out  to  meet  him,  and  escorted  the  army  into  the  city.  The 
streets  were  em})ty,  that  the  eeremou)  of  the  royal  audience 
might  not  be  impeded;  but  windows  and  balconies  wtn-e 
thronged  with  eager  spectators. 

^fontezuma  now  appeared,  borne  in  a  glittering  palan- 
quin, and  accompanied  by  his  chii'f  ollicers,  magnilieently 
ailorned,  and  dis])laying  in  their  downcast  looks  and  silent 
obsequiousness  the  reverence  in  which  they  held  their 
monarch.  As  he  dismounted  and  walked  to  meet  Cortez, 
leaning  on  his  relatives,  the  lords  of  Tezcuco  and  Iztapa- 
lapa,  attendants  spread  carpets  befu'e  him. 

With  unheard-of  condescension  and  expression  of  respect, 
the  king  saluted  the  Spanish  commander  in  Mexican  style, 
stooping  and  touching  the  ground  with  his  hand,  and  tlnni 
raising  it  to  his  lips.  lie  wore  a  robe  of  fine  cotton, 
adorned  with  gems,  golden  sandals,  and  a  light  crown  of 
gold  supporting  the  ornamental  circle  of  plumes,  esteemed 
the  most  gracefid  head-di-ess.  ITe  was  about  forty  years 
of  age,  of  light  complexion,  and  of  majestic  aspect  and 
demeanor. 

Cortez  advanced,  and  placing  a  showy  necklace  round  the 
monarch's  neck,  would  have  embraced  him,  but  was  gently 
restrained  by  the  attendant  lords — such  familiarity  being 
deemed  unsuitable  to  their  Siovereign's  greatness. 

After  mutual  friendly  speeches,  the  whole  throng  pro- 
ceeded to  the  palaces  set  apart  for  the  Sjianiards'  use,  and 


iH'^ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


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I.     1. 


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°\  > 


>,^ 


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/ 


S 


Hiotographic 

Sdences 

Corporation 


S: 


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S^ 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


4ij 


^*'  %     MP.. 


6 


84 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AMERICA. 


Montezuma,  leading  Cor-tez  by  the  hand,  conducted  him 
to  his  apartment,  and  placed  about  his  neck  a  golden  collar. 

During  the  Aveek  succeeding  the  entry  into  Mexico,  cere- 
monious visits  were  interchanged  by  Cortez  and  the  em- 
peror. The  Mexican  prince  conducted  his  guests  through 
the  ro^-al  palaces  and  gardens,  and,  in  their  company, 
visited  the  great  temple  of  sacrifice.  The  historians  of 
that  day  can  find  no  language  strong  enough  to  exjoress 
the  wonder  and  admiration  which  the  magnificent  spec- 
tacle excited  in  the  minds  of  the  Spanish  behrlders.  The 
j)omp  and  state  of  tlie  monarch;  his  crowd  of  obsequious 
attendants;  his  pleasure  houses,  aqueducts,  fountains,  and 
gardens  of  odoriferous  shrubs;  the  extent  of  his  wealth 
in  jewels  and  the  precious  inctals;  liis  store  of  arms,  and 
the  numl)er  of  his  skilful  artisans,  are  described  and  en- 
larged upon  at  great  length. 

It  remains  to  this  day  a  matter  of  astonishment  that 
such  huge  buildings  of  hewn  stone,  as  every  where  met 
tlie  eye  in  the  ancient  city,  could  have  been  erected  with- 
out the  use  of  iron.  Copper,  hardened  by  an  alloy  of  tin, 
was  the  only  metal  of  which  the  tools  were  made  by  which 
the  hard  rock  was  laboriously  shaped. 

The  indignation  and  horror  excited  by  the  bloody 
religious  rites  of  the  country,  led  Cortez  to  strive  contin- 
ually to  impress  u})on  the  mind  of  his  host  the  folly  and 
absurdity  of  his  religion.  The  only  good  efl'ect  that  is 
paid  to  have  resulted  from  these  arguments  was  the  aban- 
donment, on  the  part  oi  the  king,  of  the  custom  of  hav- 
ing human  flesh  set  upon  his  own  table. 

The  principal  temple  is  minutely  descril)ed,  and  must, 
indeed,  have  j^resented  a  singular  scene  of  horror  and 
magnificence.-  It  was  surrounded  by  a  wall,  faced  with 
wreathed  serpents,  carved  in  stone,  the  gateways  to  which 
were  surmounted  with  statues.  The  roof  of  the  main 
building  was  flat,  and  paved  with  beautifully  polished 


I   coul 

I        J 

].le 
froj 

ZUIl 

sincl 
potj 
wh[ 
thel 

no 


d  loxm 
collar. 
3,  ccre- 
kc  ein- 
lirougli 
iipany, 
ians  of 
express 
it  spec- 
3.     The 
cquioiis 
ins,  and 
1  -wealth 
•niP,  and 
and  en- 

lont  that 
lere  met 
ted  with- 
oy  of  tin, 
hy  wliieh 

B  bloody 
■0  contin- 
foUy  and 
ct  that  is 
the  aban- 
m  of  hav- 

and  must, 
lorror  and 
Faced  with 
'S  to  which 
the  main 
y  polished 


i 
1 


abohiginp:s  of  Mexico. 


85 


stones;  and  thereon  appeared  two  hideous  idols,  seated 
upon  tlirones  of  state  in  al!.  the  splendor  of  barbaric  orna- 
ment; while  before  them  stood  tlic  terrible  stone  of  sacri- 
fice. This  was  a  green  mass,  of  rock,  five  spans  high, 
presenting  a  sharp  angle  at  the  top,  over  which  the  miser- 
able victims  were  stretclied,  wliile  the  priest  gashed  open 
the  living  body  witli  a  rude  Icnifc  of  flint,  and  tore  out 
the  palpitating  heart.  "I  devoted  them  and  all  their 
wickedness,"  says  Diaz,  "to  God's  vengeance,  and  thought 
that  the  time  would  never  arrive  that  I  should  escape 
from  this  scene  of  human  butchery,  horrible  smells,  and 
more  detestable  siglits."  lie  tells  of  an  ajDartment  filled 
with  Avild  animals  and  venomous  reptiles,  who  were  fed 
with  the  sacrificial  flesh.  Of  these,  the  most  dangerous  ser- 
pents had  "in  their  tails  somewhat  that  sounds  like  casti- 
nets." — "These  beasts  and'horrid  reptiles  were  retained  to 
keep  comjiany  with  their  infernal  Gods,  and  when  these 
animals  yelled  and  liisscd,  the  palace  seemed  like  hell 
itself."  From  this  elevation,  a  beautiful  view  was  ob- 
tained of  the  whole  of  the  great  salt  lake  in  which  the 
city  stood,  the  towns  of  the  vicinity,  the  long  and  well- 
built  causeys  connecting  them,  and  the  magnificent  moun- 
tains beyond. 

It  would  be  tedious  to  relate  the  ceremonies  of  the  royal 
court,  although  many  of  them  arc  singular,  and  well 
worth  the  examination  of  those  who  would  obtain  a  com- 
plete knowledge  of  a  time  and  pe%le  varying  so  widely 
from  any  thing  now  known  on  earth.  Among  ^[(inte- 
zuma's  means  of  luxury  or  relaxation  were  the  habits  of 
smoking  tobacco,  drinking  a  fermented  liquor  of  no  little 
potency,  and  listening  to  the  remarks  of  a  set(\f  bufibons 
whom  he  kept  about  him,  in  the  same  cai^acit-^  as  that  of 
the  court-fools  c 


past 


I'ope. 


An  analogy  to  rites  and  customs  of  the  Old  World, 
no  less  striking,   was  noticed  in  many  of  the  popular 


m 


80 


INDIAN  UACES  OF  AMEKICA. 


religious  observances.  "It  sliould  seem  that  the  Devil," 
as  Do  Solis  has  it,  "the  Invcutor  of  these  Eites,  was 
ambitious  to  imitate  llaiitism  and  Circumcision,  Avith 
the  same  pride  with  which*  he  endeavored  to  counterieit 
tlic  other  Ceremonies,  and  even  the  Sacraments  of  the 
Catholic  Church;  since  he  introduced  among  these  Barbar- 
ians the  Confession  of  Sins,  giving  them  to  undei'stand 
tliat  thereby  they  olMaiticd  the  Favor  of  their  Gods.  He 
instituted  likewise  a  ridiculous  sort  of  Communion,  which 
the  Priests  administered  upon  certain  Da^-s  in  the  Year, 
dividing  into  small  Bits  an  Idol  made  of  Flower,  mix'd 
up  into  a  Past  with  honey,  which  tUey  called  t/ie  God  of 
Ptitikncey — "Nay,  they  even  gave  their  chief  Priests  the 
title  of  Pajms  in  their  Language;  by  which  we  iind  that 
this  Imitation  cost  Satan  a  very  particular  study  and 
a])i)lication." 

Marriages  were  performed  by  the  jiriest's  tying  the 
veil  of  the  woman  to  a  ])ortion  of  the  man's  dress,  after 
certain  prescribed  jn-eliminaries.  In  this  guise  the  pair 
walked  home  together,  and  concluded  the  ceremony  by 
pacing  seven  times  round  the  domestic  hearth.  Divorces 
were  at  the  discretion  of  the  jxirties,  and  when  they  took 
place,  the  sous  belonged  t<:)  the  man,  tin-  daughters  to  llie 
woman.  Hasty  sejiarations  were  guartled  against  l)y  a 
])rnvision  that,  should  they  again  coliabit  after  having 
once  broken  the  bon<l  of  union,  both  should  be  put  to 
death.  In  some  instaiices,  on  the  death  of  the  husband, 
his  wife  would  inunolate  herself,  according  to  the  custom, 
until  recently,  so  pi'cvalent  in  India. 


'■i 


ke] 
ada 
wit) 
wa.< 
(1 

tool! 

dovl 

his 


ABORIGINES  OF  MEXICO. 


87 


;  Devil," 
tert,  wtis 
m,   with 
uuteril'it 
s  of  tlie 
i  Biirbar- 
idL'i'.stuud 
oih.     He 
)n,  wliich 
tlie  Year, 
or,  mixd    j 
he  God  of 
'ricsts  tlic    I 
!  liiul  that    j 
,tudy   and    i 

tying  the 
livss,  after 
J  the  pair 

MHony  by 
Divorces 

they  took 
iters  to  :.he 
ainst  by  a 
tor  having 

be  put  to 

husband, 

;hc  custom, 


CHAPTER  V. 

SEIZURE    AND    IMPUISONMENT    OF    MONTEZUMA EXECUTION    OF 

QUALPOPOCA  AND  HIS  COMPANIONS OMINOUS    PROSPECTS 

EXPEDITION    OF      PAMPHILO     DE     NARVAEZ SUCCESS     OF 

CORTKZ  AGAINST  HIM RETURN  TO  MEXICO OUTHA(;E 

liV  ALVARADO,  AND  CONSEQUENT  TROUBLES DEATH 

OF  MONTEZUMA THE  "NOCHE  TRISTe" HATTLE 

OF    OliTUMHA,    AND    ARRIVAL    AT    TLASCALA. 

"Ami  sounds  thiit  mingled  laugh — and  shout — and  scream- 
To  freeze  the  blood  in  one  discordant  jar, 
Rung  to  the  pealing  thunderbolts  cf  war." 

Campbell. 

CoR'i'EZ  was  not  yet  satisfied;  he  felt  his  situation  to  be 
precarious,  and  that  liis  object  would  not  be  fully  accom- 
plislied  until  he  had  acrpiircd  coinjilete  mastery  over  the 
inhabitants  of  the  imperial  city.  While  he  was  on  his 
inarcli  to  Mexico,  Juan  do  Escalente,  commander  of  the 
garrison  left  at  Vera  Cruz,  had,  with  six  other  Sjianiards, 
perished  in  a  broil  with  the  natives.  One  soldier  was 
taken  prisoner,  but  dying  of  his  wounds,  his  captors  car- 
ried his  head  to  ^lontezuma.  The  tr()])]iy  proved  an  ob- 
ject of  terror  to  the  king,  who  trembled  as  he  looked  on 
the  marks  of  manly  strength  which  its  contour  and  thick 
curled  beard  betokened,  and  ordered  it  froni  liis  presence. 

Corte/  knew  of  these  events  Avhen  at  Cliolula,  but  liad 
ke])t  them  concealed  from  most  of  his  people,  lie  now 
adduced  tliem,  in  select  council  of  his  ollicers,  as  reason — 
with  other  matters — for  the  bold  step  he  pur|)osed.  This 
was  to  seize  the  person  of  ^Eontezuma. 

On  the  eighth  day  after  the  arrival  at  the  city,  Cortcz 
took  with  him  Alvarado,  Velasquez  de  Leon,  Avila,  San- 
doval, and  Francisco  de  Lujo,  and,  ordering  a  number  of 
his  soldiers  to  keep  in  his  vicinity,  proceeded  to  the  royal 


••I 
-ft 


1 


«»!»A> 


88 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AMERICA. 


•4 


palace.  He  conversed  with  Moutezuma  concerning  the 
attaclv  on  the  garrison  at  tlie  coast,  and  i^rofossed  belief  in 
the  Mexican  prince's  asseverations  that  he  had  no  part  in 
it;  but  added  tliat,  to  quiet  all  suspicion  on  the  part 
of  the  great  emperor  of  the  J^]ast,  it  would  be  best  for 
him  to  remove  to  the  Spanish  quarters!  Montezuma  saw 
at  once  the  degradation  to  which  he  Avas  called  u])on  to 
submit,  but  looking  on  tlie  fierce  Sjianiards  around  him, 
and  hearing  an  interpretation  of  their  threats  to  dispatch 
him  innnediately  if  he  did  not  comply,  he  sulfered  himself 
to  be  conducted  to  the  palace  occupied  by  his  false  friends. 

To  Lnle  las  disgrace  from  his  subjects,  the  iniuappy 
monarch  assured  the  astonished  concourse  in  the  sti'cets 
that  lie  went  of  his  own  free  will.  Cortez,  while;  he  keiit 
his  prisoner  secure  by  a  constant  and  vigilant  guard, 
allowed  him  to  j>reservo  all  the  outward  tokens  of  royalty. 

Meanwhile,  Qual])opoea,  the  governor  of  the  district 
where  Jnan  de  Kscalcnte  lost  his  life,  was  sent  for,  to- 
gether with  his  associate  oOicei's.  AVhen  they  arrivcl, 
Cortez  was  allowed  by  Montezuma  to  punish  them  at  his 
own  discretion,  and  the  inhuman  monster  caused  them  to 
be  burned  alive  in  the  siglit  of  the  jio})ulaee.  Tlu^  fuel 
used  for  this  purj)osc  consisted  of  the  royal  stt)res  of  arrows, 
darts,  and  other  warhke  implements.  Still  further  to  quell 
the  spirit  of  the  king,  fetters  were  ])laeed  U2)on  his  ankles 
during  the  execution  of  this  cruel  sentence. 

The  people  of  Mexico  could  not  be  blinded  to  the  true 
position  of  their  sovereign,  and  it  was  not  long  before 
onunous  signs  ap})eared  of  a  general  determination  to 
avenge  his  wrongs,  and  vindicate  the  insulteil  hoiioi-  of  the 
nation.  The  young  lord  of  the  ancient  and  powerful  citv 
of  Tezcuco  was  foremost  in  arousing  this  s[)irit  of  resist- 
ance, but  by  artilice  and  treachery  he  lell  into  the  hands 
of  the  Spaniards,  and  his  brother  was  proclaimed  gov- 
ernor in  his  stead. 


lie 
w] 
ph 
wa 
liis 

CXC 

e\;i 
tivi 

a 

tioi 
ag;i 
La.l 


iiiug  tlie 
belief  in 

0  part  in 
the  part 
best  for 

'Aim  a  saw 

1  upon  to 
)U1h1  liini, 
)  dispatch 
x\  himself 
sc  friends?. 
;  unhappy 
the  sti'eets 
ilc  he  Ivcpt 
lut   </uavd, 
of  royalty. 
:he  district   ,i 

lut  for,  to-   ■! 
ey  arrived, 
them  at  liis     , 
sed  them  to 
Tlie  fuel 
•s  of  arrows, 
tlier  to  cpiell 
11  his  ankles 

I  to  the  true 
Idiiir  before 
iniii;itit)n  to 
honor  of  the 
lowerful  I'ity 
irit  of  resist- 
ito  the  hands 
claiuied  gov- 


ABORIGINES  OF  MEXICO. 


89 


Tire  king  was  brought  so  low  as  to  consent  to  acknowledge 
himself  a  subject  of  the  Spanisli  emperor;  and  he  deliv- 
ered up  to  Cortez  treasures  of  gold  and  silver  to  the  amount, 
according  to  computation,  of  more  than  six  millions  of 
dollars,  as  a  present  to  his  new  sovereign.  Biit  a  small 
portion  of  this  wealth  was  reserved  to  be  sent  to  Spain ; 
the  rest  Avas  divided  among  the  con(pierors,  the  chiefs  and 
oflicers  appropriating  the  lion's  share. 

'J'hc  next  movement  was  to  establish  the  Christian  cere- 
monies of  worship  upon  the  very  site  so  long  venerated 
as  the  palace  of  the  great  god  of  war.  After  strong  oppo- 
sition, a  portion  of  the  area  on  the  summit  of  the  chief 
temple  Avas  set  apart  for  the  Spaniards'  use  in  the  solem- 
nities of  their  religion,  Avliile  the  biood-stained  idol  and 
the  stone  of  sacrillcc  maintained  their  old  position. 

At  these  sacrilegious  innovations  the  whole  populace 
became  more  and  more  exasperated,  ^fontezuma  warned 
his  oppressors  of  the  storm  tliut  would  break  upon  them, 
declaring  that  if  he  should  but  give  the  sign,  his  Avhole 
jieopic  Avould  rise  as  one  man  to  release  him  and  destroy 
the  hated  Avhites.  The  unfortunate  monarch  seems  to 
have  been  distracted  and  oA^ercomc  by  emotions  of  the 
most  conflicting  nature.  For  some  of  the  Spanish  oOicers 
he  had  contracted  no  small  degree  of  personal  attachment, 
Avhile  he  must  have  felt  continually  galled  by  the  restraint 
placed  upon  his  person,  and  by  the  consciousness  that  he 
Avas  now  but  a  tool  in  the  hands  of  the  proud  invaders  of 
his  dominions.  The  mildness  and  dignity  of  his  demeanor 
excited  sympathy  and  respect  from  his  jailors,  and  Cortez 
exacted  the  utmost  deference  and  respect  towards  his  cap- 
tive from  all  around  him. 

The  prudent  general  saAV  the  necessity  for  every  precau- 
tion against  an  attack  from  the  natives,  and,  to  guard 
against  his  retreat  being  cut  oil',  on  such  a  contingency, 
had  two  vessels  built  and  furnislied  from  the  stores  saved 


m 


90 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AMERICA. 


from  the  dismantled  fleet.  Living  upon  an  island,  it  was 
in  the  power  of  tlic  natives  at  any  time  to  destroy  the 
bridj^'es  and  eauseys,  by  which  alone  there  was  commnni- 
cation  with  the  main. 

At  this  crisis,  when  all  his  energies  Avere  required  to 
resist  tlie  furv  of  an  outraged  multitude  of  barbarians 
around  him,  Cortez  heard  of  danger  from  another  source, 
whieli  moved  him  more  deeply  than  any  hostilities  on  the 
part  of  tlie  Mexicans. 

The  jealous  Cuban  governor,  Velasquez,  enraged  at  his 
presumj)tioii  in  throwing  ofl;'  the  authority  under  which  he 
had  sailed,  fitted  out  a  formidable  armament  to  overthrow 
the  newly-aequired  j)o\ver  of  Cortcz.  The  fleet  uiuhn"  the 
command  of  Pamphilo  dt;  Narvacz  reached  tlie  ^h^xican 
const,  and  news  of  its  arrival  wen^  conveyed  to  Cortez  in 
the  month  of  ^fay,  1520. 

With  liis  usual  decision  and  promptness,  the  general 
divided  his  forces,  and  leaving  the  larger  portion  under 
Alvarado  to  maintain  possession  of  the  capital,  he  marclied 
to  cheek  the  advance  of  Narvacz.  By  the  boldness  of  a 
night  attack,  followed  up  by  tlic  most  consummate  policy 
in  winning  over  the  good  wishes,  and  exciting  the  cu])idity 
of  the  newly-arrived  army,  he  converted  his  enemies  to 
friends,  and,  ]>lacing  the  leader  in  confinement,  hastened 
back  to  the  city  with  his  powerful  auxiliaries,  llis  return 
was  timely  indeed.  Alvara<lo  had  been  guilty  of  an  act 
of  barbarity,  (whether  caused  by  avarice,  by  a  su{)posed 
necessity,  or  by  a  desire  to  ape  the  valiant  achievements 
of  his  master,  cannot  now  be  ascertained,)  which  had 
brought  down  upon  him  and  liis  garrison  the  fury  and 
indignation  of  the  whole  Aztec  nation. 

Ui)on  an  occasion  of  great  public  ceremonials  at  the 
Teocalli,  or  temple,  at  which  were  gathered  a  great  con- 
course of  the  nobility  and  chiefs,  the  .Spaniards,  placing 
a  guard  at  the  gates  of  the  outer  wall,  mingled  with  the 


low  I 


k1,  it  was 

istroy  the   i 
cominmu-   '; ' 

•qnircd  to  I 

barbarians  I' 

ler  source,  : 

tics  on  the  \ 

aged  at  liis   ! 
;r  wliicli  lie   \ 
ovortlu'ow   ! 
t  under  the 
le  Mexican 
,0  Cortez  in 

the  general 
vtion  under 
he  marched 
ohhiess  of  a 
mate  policy 
the  cupidity 
i  enemies  to 
?nt,  hastened 
I  lis  ri'turn 
Ity  of  an  act 
y  a  su|)posed 
achievements 
,)  which  had 
the  fury  and 

lonials  at  the 
L  a  great  con- 
liards,  placing 
igled  with  the 


ABORIGIXES  OF  MEXICO. 


91 


? ; 


unarmed  company,  and,  at  an  appoijited  sign,  fell  upon 
and  murdered  every  Mexican  present. 

A  general  rush  upon  tlic  Spaiusli  quarters,  which  fol- 
lowed this  event,  was  only  checked  by  the  appearance  of 
Montezuma  himself  upon  one  of  the  towers  of  the  build- 
ing, who,  knowing  donbtless  that  his  own  life  could  scarcely 
be  preserved  in  such  a  melee,  rerpiested  his  subjects  to  for- 
bear. They  therefore  contented  themselves  with  besieging 
the  garrison,  and  cutting  off  supplies  of  food  and  whole- 
some water. 

It  was  on  St.  John's  day  in  the  month  of  June,  that 
Cortez  reentered  the  city.  The  streets  were  silent  and 
deserted,  and  with  doubt  and  ajiprehension  he  proceeded 
to  the  Spanish  palace.  The  soldiers  of  tlie  garrison  were 
overjoyed  at  the  sight  of  the  recruits,  and  received  their 
Ijvethren  with  open  arms,  Cortez  saw  the  folly  of  Alva- 
rado's  conduct,  and  ia  his  first  mood  of  indignation  and 
IK'tulance,  at  the  probable  frustration  of  his  plans,  ho 
indulged  in  contemptuous  treatment  of  his  royal  captive. 

The  state  of  ominous  silence  observed  in  the  city  did 
not  continue  long.  News  came  in  that  the  Indians  were 
destroying  the  bridges;  and  a  body  of  four  hundred  men, 
under  De  Ordas,  who  were  sent  out  to  reconnoitre,  were 
driven  back,  with  a  loss  of  twenty-three  of  their  number. 
Such  crowds  of  natives  poured  forth  from  their  places  of 
concealment,  that  the  streets  were  choked  with  the  livin"- 
mass,  while  from  balcony  and  roof-tops,  a  storm  ol  weap- 
ons and  missiles  of  every  description  rained  upon  the 
heads  of  the  Siianish  troops. 

Surrounding  the  cpiarters  of  the  Spaniards,,  and  using 
every  endeavor  to  burn  the  wooden  portion  of  the  build- 
ings, the  wild  horde  of  enraged  j\[exicans  continued  the 
assaiilt,  with  desperate  fury,  till  nightfall. 

Cortez  attemi-)ted  a  sally  with  the  first  dawn  of  tlie  fol- 
lowing day,  but  he  soon  found  that  he  had  an  eueniy  to 


— ^ '  I 


92 


INDIAN'    HACKS  OP  AMKIUCA. 


encounter  of  far  diirerent  si)irlt  from  tliosc  wlio  had  licro- 
tofovo  opposed  him.  l)i;iz  says,  "If  wc  had  lx!cn  ten 
fhonsand  Hectors  of  Trov,  and  as  many  Koldans,  we 
could  not  have  beaten  them  off. — Some  of  our  sohhera 
who  had  been  in  Italy,  swore  tli.it  neither  amonj^  Chris- 
tians ]ior  Tui'ks  liad  they  ever  seen  sui-li  des[ieration  as 
was  manifested  in  the  attacks  of  tliose  Indians."  The 
artillery  in  vain  s\ve|)t  them  down,  for  thousands  were 
ready  to  rush  over  the  fallen  bodies  of  their  comrades, 
and  continue  the  battle  with  augmented  hercene.s.s.  The 
Spiiiiiards  were  rinally  forced  to  retreat.  Various  expe- 
dients were  tficd  by  the  indcfatiLrable  Spanish  general  to 
rpaell  the  insurrection,  ami  to  dislodge  tlie  assailants,  who 
shot  their  weajtons  from  every  high  ])uilding  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  the  gan'is(jn.  ^foving  towers  of  wood  were  con- 
structed, to  ]n\  di'awn  througli  the  street  by  companies  of 
Tlascahins,  while  Spanish  warriors  i'voMX  the  interior  dis- 
charged volleys  of  musquetry  U}ion  the  Iiulians.  Many 
hundred  houses  were  destroyed  by  lire,  but,  being  [)rinci- 
pally  of  stone,  no  general  conflagi'ation  ensued. 

As  a  last  resort,  the  great  king  hin^self,  decked  in  his 
robes  of  state,  was  taken  to  the  tower  from  which  he  had 
before  succeeded  in  quieting  the  angry  populace.  'J'he 
midtitudc  listened  with  deferential  awe,  but  when  they 
heard  again  the  palpable  falsehood  that  he  staid  among 
the  Spaniards  by  his  own  free  will,  reverence  gave  way 
to  contempt  and  indignation.  Eevilings  and  reproaches 
were  followed  by  a  shower  of  stones  and  arrows.  The 
attendant  sohliers  in  vain  interposed  their  shields  to  pro- 
tect the  cin_2)cror:  he  fell,  severely  wounde(l  ujion  the  head 
by  a  stone.  The  crowd  now  retired,  appalled  at  the  sacri- 
lege that  they  had  committed.  But  the  work  was  done: 
the  miserable  ALontezuma,  overcome  with  rage,  mortitic.i- 
tion,  and  dcs])air,  would  accept  of  no  assistance,  either 
s>n-gical  or  spiritual  from  the  Spaniards,     In  three  days, 


mg 

nun 

]  m )( 

]>osi 

wli; 

an 

pan 

cans 


l)roi| 
ch 
cro\l 
cauti 


troo 
iiig 
a  Ian 
ci-y 
reso 


L 


'I 


\ii(T  licre- 
been  ton 
diina,  we    ' 
r  soltlii'Vrf 
)ng  Chris- 
enition  as 
us."     'H.c 
aiuls  were 

comriuV'S, 
noss.  The 
nous  cxpc- 

troncral  to 

I") 

lilauts,  who 
II  tbc  vicin- 
I  we IX!  cou- 
Miipanies  of 
Hiterior  elis- 
iuns.  Many 
K'ing  pi'iuci- 
nl. 

lacked  ill  lii;^ 
K-lilcli  he  had 
)\ihice.     'I'ho 
t  Avheu  thrv 
staid  au\oii;_' 
lee  gave  Nvay 
id  roproaeheri 
arrows,     'i'hc 
Aiiehls  to  pi-o- 
upon  the  head 
X  at  the  sacri. 
jrk  was  done: 
aire,  uiortitieii- 
.istaiiee,  either 
In  three  days, 


ABOHIfilNKS  OF  MEXICO. 


93 


ll 


says  do  Soils,  "he  surrendered  up  to  the  Devil  the  eter- 
nal Possession  of  his  Soul,  employing  the  latest  moments 
oC  his  Breath  in  impions  Thoughts  of  saerilieing  his  Knc- 
niies  to  his  Fury  and  llevenge." 

l^'or  the  particulars  of  the  various  sorties;  the  ceaseless 
fighting;  and,  ahove  all,  the  terrible  scene  at  the  storming 
of  the  holy  temijle,  the  reader  must  refer  to  more  exten- 
sive treatises  than  this;  sulliee  it  that,  weakened  by  con- 
tinual fatigue,  and  day  by  day  less  able  to  resist  the  as- 
saults of  the  enemy,  the  Sjianiards  finally  concluded  to 
evacuate  the  city.  One  Botello,  a  sohlicr  who  was  rejfuted 
a  necromancer,  as  he  "spoke  Latin,  and  had  \  en  at 
Home,"  announced  a  certain  night  as  the  oidy  time  when 
the  army  could  escape  utter  destruction. 

Cortez,  whether  moved  by  su]ierstition  or  aware  of  its 
influence  with  the  army,  and  ho])eless  of  longer  maintain- 
ing a  hold  on  the  cajiital  under  existing  circumstaiiei's, 
made  i)rej)arations  to  march.  He  attempted  to  blind  his 
])roceedings  by  pretended  treaties  with  the  Mexicans,  pro- 
posnig  to  evacuate  the  city  peaceably^  within  eight  days, 
while,  at  the  same  time,  he  was  ordering  every  thing  for 
an  instantaneous  dejiarture.  A  portable  bridge  was  ] ire- 
pared  to  ailbrd  the  means  for  crossing  the  gaps  in  the 
causey  made  by  the  enemy. 

On  the  night  of  the  fn-st  of  July,  (1520),  the  general 
brought  out  the  inunense  treasures  of  gold  stored  ui  his 
chamber,  and,  having  separated  the  portion  allotted  to  the 
crown,  told  the  soldiery  to  take  what  they  woulil,  but 
cautioned  them  against  encumbering  themselves. 

It  was  near  midnight,  and  dark  and  rainy,  when  the 
troops  were  put  in  motion.  They  were  in  the  act  of  pass- 
ing the  fu'st  breach,  over  the  portable  bridge,  \vhen  the 
alarm  was  given  that  the  "Teules  were  going,"  and  the 
cry  of  "Taltelulco,  Taltelulco,  (out  with  your  canoes)" 
resounded  over  the  water.    The  Spaniards  were  doomed 


04 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMKHICA. 


to  ;j!;ivator  disiistcr  ami  luisiwv  on  this  tii;_''lif,  known  as  flio 
"noclic  tristf,"  or  niLrlit  of  sorrow,  tliiiii  tlii'V  liml  ever  yet 
cxpcricnceil.  An  iiinuincrahlc  horde  of  dusky  liii^un'S 
Ix'Sft  the  eausey,  and  attackril  the  fuL,'itivi'.s  in  front,  llank, 
anil  rear. 

]?y  a  ooniplication  of  inisfortuno,  the  l)rid,L:v  broke,  and 
from  ih(>  stru<.',aliii^  mass  of  men  and  liorsoa,  the  H'W  who 
conlil  obtain  footini^  on  the  causey  wore  mostly  kilK'tl,  or 
their  cries  for  help  were  heard  by  their  eompanioiis  as 
they  Avere  ])orne  oil"  in  the  canoes  of  tlie  enemy,  doomed 
victims  for  sacriliee.  The  cavalry,  who  were  i:i  advance, 
hastened  Ibrward,  hopeless  of  relieving!;  those  wliose  re- 
treat had  been  cut  oil",  ami  who  were  blindly  contending 
in  the  darkness  with  tlie  tierce  and  enraLred  A/.ti'es. 

Alvarado,  dismf)iinted  Jiml  wounded,  came  u[)  with  the 
advance,  on  foot,  accompanied  liy  three  soldiers  ai'.d  ciLfht 
'^riaseahiiis.  lie  reported  the  destrueli()n  of  the  rear-L^nard, 
to;_''etliei-  with  their  h-ader,  N'elasqut'X  de  Leon.  Aeeorilini,' 
to  some  accounts,  Alvarado  had  made  his  escape  by  an 
extraordinary  lea[)  over  the  ^^i]),  but  Dia/.  denies  the  pos- 
sibility of  the  act. 

Th(!  wcarie<l  and  disabled  remnant  of  the  proud  army 
of  Coi'tez  pursued  tiieir  route  towards  the  friendly  district 
of  Tlascala,  I'oUowed  by  detached  companies  of  ^[exicans, 
who  attack(!(l  the  fu.izitives  in  the  rear,  and,  with  insulliiiu' 
shouts,  bade  them  hasten  to  tlie  doom  that  awaited  them. 

Near  a  place  called  Obtuniba,  the  Indians  wore  fouiul 
arrayed  upon  a  ]»lain  in  countless  host.s,  to  obstruct  the 
march,  and  linish  the  work  so  successfully  commenced  on 
the  ini-dit  of  the  retreat.  There  was  no  way  to  avoid  a 
^fcneral  engagement,  and  every  Spaniard  niTved  liimself 
for  the  desjH.Tate  struggle.  We  quote  Irom  IJcrnal  Diaz— 
"Oh  what  it  Avas  to  sec  this  tremendous  battle!  how  wc 
closed  foot  to  foot,  and  with  what  fury  the  dogs  fought 
iisl  such  Avounding  as  there  Avas  amongst  us  with  their 


^1 


trokf,  and 
t>  I'l'W'  who 

•A  :i(lv:Uii'i<, 
whoso,  ro-   ; 
contoutVuij^  * 

/,ti'''S. 

np  with  the 

>  ri«iir-;4'i:inl, 


-capo 


\)V  uu 


I'u'S  the  pus- 

iroutl  »i'ii>y 
ii.Uy  (Vistr'u't 

ith  insnltiu;^ 
wailc'l  thi'iii. 
s  wore  foiiml 

ohstruc't  the 
Miiuii'ucnl  on 
vv  to  avoid  a 

rved  hiinsolf 
Bcrmd  V>\'XA— 

ttlcl  how  wo 
e  dof^s  fou,ulit 

us  with  thoir 


la 


'! 


AIWRIOINKS  OF  MEXICO. 


05 


l.iiioos  fin<l  chilis,  mid  two-haiidiMl  swords,  wliilo  our  oiiv* 
iUrv,  I'avoiu'c'd  hy  the  plain  ^'rouiid,  rodo  tliroii.Lili  them  at 
will. — TIkmi,  to  liear  the  valiant  Samhn'al  how  he  eiicour- 
np'(l  us,  erying  out,  'Now,  gentlemen,  is  the  day  of  vic- 
tory; j)Ut  your  trust  in  (jod,  we  shall  survive,  for  ho 
lirescrves  us  for  some  good  nuriiosc.'" 

Th(!  royal  staiulard  was  taken,  its  hearer  heing  slain,  and 
the  wlioK'  nudtitudi!  were  put  to  llight,  and  hewn  down 
hy  hundreds  in  their  retreat.  The  S[)aniards  pushed  on 
to  Tlaseula,  not  without  misgivings  as  to  the  reception 
they  should  nu3et  with  in  their  present  eri{)i)led  and  suf- 
fering coiiditi(jn.  These  fi'ars  ]iroved  groundless:  tho 
friendly  Tlasealans  endjraeed  them  aHeetionatcly ;  wi'[it 
over  their  loss;  and  gently  rebuked  them  for  trusting  the 
treaeherous  ^^exicans. 

During  the  "noelic  triste,"  and  upon  the  m.irch  toTlas- 
Cftla,  eight  liunilre(l  and  seventy  Spaniards  are  reeorde(l  lo 
have  perisiu'd  in  l)attle,  or  to  have  been  doomed,  as  pris- 
oners, to  a  far  more  terrible  fate.  Of  tlu'ir  Tlasealan  allies 
more  than  a  thousand  were  slain.  Only  four  hundivd  and 
foi'ty  of  tho  Spanish  ti'oo])3  reached  Tlaseala,  and  these 
wen;  many  of  them  wounded  and  disabli-d,  and  wei-e  ill 
su])i)lied  with  arms.  Some  aeeounts  state  that  the  Miwi- 
can  army,  at  ()btund)a,  numbered  two  hundred  thousand 
men,  and  that  twenty  thousand  of  these  fell  in  the  enga"-c- 
inent  or  were  slaughlered  in  theii-  tumultuous  retreat. 


'    .V  ■*: 


9G  INDIAN'   RACES   OF  AMEUICA. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

PRKPARATIO.NS    FOR    THE  ATTACK    ON    THE    CITY    OF  MEXICO 

liUlI-UI.\G  AND  TRANSPORTATION  OF  IJHIGANTINhS SIKGE 

LAIU    TO    TIIF,    CITY — ASSAULT    IIV    TlIK    SPANIARDS, 
AND    TIIDIR    RKPULSE SACRIFICE    OF    PRISON- 
ERS— CAPTURE    OF  GUATIMOZIN,  AND 
CuNQUEST    OF    THE    CAPITAL. 

And  Aztec   priests,  upon  tlu'lr  teocallis, 

liuiit  the  wild  war-drum,  made  of  scrpi'iits'  sliiii." 

LoNli  FELLOW. 

On  tlie  death  of  Moiitcziuina,  liis  Ijrother  Cuitlaliua, 
governor  of  Iztapalapa,  liad  taken  the  sujtreine  eoiimiaml 
over  the  Aztecs,  lie  had  been  jM'ime  mover  in  tlie  revolt 
wliicli  resulted  in  the  expulsion  of  the  Spaniards  from  the 
city,  and  it  was  hy  his  orders  that  their  lliglit  had  been 
so  liercely  followed  up.  At  tlie  present  juneture,  he  sent 
heralds  to  projiosc  a  treaty  of  jjeace  with  the  friendly  tribe 
by  whose  hosphality  the  Spanish  army  was  now  suppoiled, 
proposing  the  destruetion  of  the  whites,  who  had  brought 
such  woes  upon  the  whole  country.  A  }iortion  of  the 
Tlascalan  assembly  looked  approvingly  upon  the  sugges- 
tioii,  but  the  older  and  wiser  members,  retlecting  upon  the 
known  treachery  of  the  Mexicans,  and  ;:ieir  former  acts 
of  oppression,  refnsed  to  listen  to  it. 

Cortex,  perceiving  discontent  to  be  rife  among  his  men, 
determined  not  to  remain  idle,  but  to  keep  their  attention 
constantly  employed.  Some,  who  were  ])ining  for  ea.sc  and 
quiet,  he  allowed  to  take  ship  for  Cuba,  while  by  every 
argument  lie  a})pealed  to  the  honor  ar.d  valor  of  his  veter- 
ans, urging  them  not  to  desist  at  the  iirst  failure,  but  to 
stand  by  their  g(!neral  and  i ('instate  their  fallen  fortunes. 
lie  engaged  in  bloody  eonlliets  with  Mexican  tribes  on 


fronl 
wliii 
in  il 
aboJ 
of  1 

gl'CiJ 

the 


Cviitlaliua, 
conuuand 
I  the  revolt 
As  iVoin  the 
t  had  been 
arc,  lie  sent 
ioudly  tribe 
;  supported, 
lad  brought 
•tioii  of  the 
the  sugges- 


Tig  upon 


the 


former  acts 

ong  his  men, 
leir  attention 
cr  for  ease  and 
lile  by  every 
[•  of  his  vetcr- 
failure,  but  to 
ill.-n  fortunes, 
ican  tribes  on 


ABORICxINES  OF  MEXICO. 


97 


cither  side  of  Tlascala,  with  the  most  distinguished  suc- 
sess;  and  taking  possession  of  the  town  of  Tepeaea,  a  finv 
leagues  distant,  established  his  head-quarters  there. 

By  singular  good  fortune,  several  ships,  bringing  fresh 
troops  to  sujiport  Narvaez,  arrived  from  Cuba,  and  the 
adventurers,  learning  the  true  position  of  affairs,  readil}' 
joined  the  popular  leader.  Another  expedition,  sent  by 
the  governor  of  Jamaica  to  form  a  settlement  farther  up 
tlic  coast,  only  contributed  to  swell  the  resources  of  Cor- 
tez;  those  engaged  in  the  undertaking  deeming  it  more 
profitable  to  unite  witli  the  followers  of  so  renowned  a 
general,  than  to  undergo  the  dangers  and  hardship  of  estab- 
lishing themselves  unassisted  among  hostile  savages. 

Cortez  determined  to  make  every  prejiaration  for  a 
renewed  attack  upon  the  city  of  Mexico,  Ketiirning  to 
Tlascala,  he  set  himself  to  equip  and  furnish  his  troops, 
and  to  train  the  Indian  allies  in  the  art  of  war.  Gunpow- 
der was  manufactured;  the  sulphur  being  procured  from 
tlic  neighboring  voleano  of  ropocatapctl.  The  most  im- 
portant part  of  his  schemes,  however,  was  the  building  a 
number  of  small  vessels,  or  brigantines,  by  means  of  which 
his  troops  could  be  made  independent  of  the  narrow  and 
dangerous  causeys.  These  vessels  he  ordered  to  be  made 
in  separate  pieces,  of  such  a  size  that  they  could  be  trans- 
ported over  the  mountains  by  the  Indian  carriers:  the 
stores  and  rigging  wore  brought  from  the  coast  by  the 
same  means  of  conveyance. 

On  the  28th  of  December  Cortez  led  his  army  forth 
from  Tlascala,  The  Spanish  force  was  less  than  that  witli 
which  tlie  first  invasion  was  undertaken,  but  was  superior 
ill  martial  equipments.  The  whole  army  consisted  of 
about  six  hundred  whites,  and  ten  thousand,  or  njnvards, 
of  Thiscalans,  They  marched  direct  for  Tezcueo,  on  the 
great  lake  of  iNiexico,  No  op})osition  was  jnade  during 
the  march,  and  the  city  was  yielded  to  them  without  a 
7 


•MV' 


M 


>3!#r 


I 


98 


INDIAN   RACES  OF   AMELIICA. 


.;i> 


Struggle,  nearly  all  tlic  iiilial)itaiats  deserting  it  in  their 
boats.  Here  it  was  determined  to  await  the  completion 
and  arrival  of  tlie  brigantines. 

Wiiile  all  these  formidable  preparations  were  going  on, 
important  changes  had  taken  ])lace  in  the  Aztec  monarchy. 
Cuitlahua,  or  Quctlavaca,  liad  perishe<l  by  that  terrible 
scourge  the  small-}>ox,  which  was  introduced  from  the  old 
country  by  one  of  Narvaez's  ships,  and  which  spread  over 
all  Mexico,  carrying  oif  thousands  of  the  natives.  The 
new  emperor  Guatimozin,  a  brave  and  nol)le  youtli,  was 
nephew  and  successor  to  Montezuma.  The  beauty  and 
gallant  bearing  of  this  prince  excited  the  admiration  of 
all  beholders;  while  his  intelligence  and  valor,  combined 
with  the  haired  which  he  bore  towards  the  whites,  made 
him  an  enemy  to  be  dreaded.  He  had  devoted  his  whole 
attention,  since  his  accession,  to  fortilying  and  defendinir 
his  capital.  The  unserviceable  inhabitants  wei'c  sent  into 
the  country,  while  warriors  from  all  sides  were  called  to 
rally  round  the  Aztec  banner  within  the  city. 

The  rciiiainder  of  the  winter  and  the  early  months  of 
spring  were  oc(;u[)ied  by  the  Spaniards  in  sallies  against 
neighboring  towns  and  districts;  the  reduction  of  the  dis- 
alfected;  the  conciliation  of  tliose  inclined  to  Ciioperatc 
with  the  besiegers;  and,  above  all,  the  completion  and  trans- 
pollution  of  the  vessels.  W'l^  must  pass  over  the  skir- 
mislu'S  and  l)attles  which  cieeurred  during  this  pi'riod.  li 
would  be  little  n\ore  than  a  repetition  ol"  scenes  of  ci'uelty, 
horroi',  an<l.  bIoo<lshe(l.  The  spirit  of  the;  Aztecs  wa.- 
uiisubdued,  and  their  new  e'nperor  haughtily  I'efused  tn 
listcm  to  any  terms  of  treaty,  a...io\igh  Cortez  eommissioiic*! 
sundiy  prisonei's  of  I'ank  to  endeavor  to  move  him.  Suc- 
cess in  occupying  many  strong  and  populous  towns,  together 
with  the  arrival  of  fresh  recruits,  served  to  (Micourage  the 
S|)aniar(ls  in  the  h()[)es  of  final  triumph.  Thousands  of 
natives  were  emj)loyed  in  digging  a  canal  by  which  the 


gl.> 

gapj 
per.J 
riv;il 

exci 
vltv 


it  in  their    j 
eorapletion    i 

i; 
c  going  on,    'l 

inonarcliy.  11 
;iat  terrible  ji 
rom  the  old  jl 
spread  over  1^ 
avverf.     The 

youth,  was 
beauty  and 
liuiratiou  of 
)r,  combined 
whiti'?,  made 
,ed  his  wliole 
id  delendini,' 
^■(•]V  sent  into 
,-ore  ealled  to 

Iv  numths  ol 
;;iUies  a;j:ainst 
on  "1'  the  dis- 
[  to  c'r>operate 
lion  and  trans- 
over  the  skir- 
his  pi'riod.     h 
,s  of  cruelty, 
,.   A /tees  \v:i.- 
,tilv  refused  to 
/,  ron\u\issionf'l 

Dve  him.  ^>"^'' 
towns,  together 
)  (Mieourage  tlu' 
Thonsaiids  ot' 
\  i,y  which  the 


ABORIGINES  OF  Mi:XICO, 


99 


h 


little  fleet  should  be  launched.  The  beams  and  planks  of 
the  vessels  ready  to  be  joiued,  with  all  the  paraphernalia 
of  nautical  outfit,  were  carried  in  state  by  an  inunense  con- 
course of  Tlascalans,  charged  witli  the  burtlicn,  or  acting 
as  a  guard  of  protection.  Diaz  says  that  no  less  than 
eight  thousand  men  served  in  each  of  these  capacities, 
vv hile  two  thousand  more  followed  with  provisions.  About 
the  last  of  April  (1521)  the  thirteen  brigantines,  fitted  for 
service,  were  launched  into  tlie  canal. 

The  addition  of  an  armed  flotilla,  w^hieh,  urgixl  by  wind 
and  onrs,  could  bear  down  upon  and  scatter  the  frail  canoes 
of  the  natives,  proved  of  incalculable  advantage.     The 
size  of  the  vessels,  the  thunder  of  their  cannons,  their 
speed,  and  the  skill  with  Avhich  they  were  managed  and 
controlled,  must  have  filled  the  Mexicans  with  amaztMnejit. 
Near  the  end  of  ^fay  a  regular  system  of  siege  was  en- 
tered npon,  by  the  occupation  of  the  three  great  approaches 
to  the  city.      The  inhabitants  were   unwearied  in  their 
iittaeks,  and  a  degree  of  vigilance  and  courage  on  the  part 
of  the  S]>aniards,  scarce  cipialled  in  any  age  or  country, 
oidy  preserved  them  from  utter  destriietion.     *'  For  ninety- 
three  davs  together,"  says  Diaz,  "we  wenM-mployed  in  the 
siege  of  this  great  and  strong  city,  and  every  day  and 
every  night  we  wen;  engag(Ml  with  the  enemr. — Were  I 
to  extend  my  narrative  to  every  action  whit'h  took  place, 
it  would  be  almost  endless,  and  my  history  would  resem- 
ble that  of  Amadis  and  the  other  books  of  ihivalry." 

Kvcry  expedient,  of  driving  sunken  p;ilis;ides  to  (uitan- 
gle  the  vessels;  of  ])it- falls  for  the  cavalry;  and  of  I'.utting 
gaps  in  the  causeys,  was  resorted  to  by  the  luvsiogcd,  and 
pers(>vered  in  with  a  determination  and  obstinacy  only 
rivalled  by  the  stern  temper  of  the  ol)durat(>  invaders. 
There  was  necessarily  great  sulVering  on  both  sides, 
exclusive  of  the  horrors  of  actual  warfiire,  fi'om  the  scar- 
vity  of  provision.      Maize  was  the  principal  resort;    but 


■M 


100 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AMERICA. 


tlic  hordes  of  Indian  allies  sustained  existence  by  a  more 
foul  repast,  feeding  upon  the  bodies  that  were  every  where 
scattered  over  the  causeys,  or  floating  in  the  lake — ghastly 
memorials  of  each  day's  slaughter.  Knowing  the  insufll- 
ciency  of  their  own  su])plies,  the  Spaniards  dared  not  for- 
bid this  practice. 

Cortez  at  last  determined  upon  an  assault  from  three 
difterent  quarters,  with  his  whole  force.  Fierce  battles 
had  already  been  fought  within  tlie  city  walls;  the  great 
Teocalli  had  been  a  second  time  carried  by  storm,  and  its 
ofliciating  priests  thrown  from  its  summit;  the  roval 
jialace,  with  its  adjoining  buildings,  and  the  old  fortress 
where  the  S})aniards  had  formerly  quartered,  had  been 
destroyed;  but  no  general  assault  had  been  made.  After 
some  discussion,  in  which  the  hazard  of  risking  so  mueli 
u]iiin  a  single  onslaught  was  fully  discussed,  the  general 
dt'termiued  to  undertake  it,  and  issued  his  orders  fur  a 
simultaneous  advance — the  march  over  the  causeys  to  be 
protected  by  the  cooperation  of  the  brigantines. 

The  three  divisions  under  Cortez,  Alvaradi*,  and  San- 
doval, were  put  in  motion  on  the  ensuing  morning.     Or- 
ders were  given  that  each  jnirty  should   secure   a  safi' 
retreat  by  thoroughly  lilling  up  all  gaps  in  the  causeys  as 
they  made  their  way  towards  the  heai't  of  the  city.    Neglect 
of  this  prudent  arrangement  ])n)ved  most  disastrous.     An 
advanced  force,  under  Aldert^te,  encoui'agcMl  by  the  little 
show  of  resistance,  ])ressed  on  nearly  to  the  great  s(pian', 
leaving  behind  them  a  breach  in  the  causey,  (through 
which  the  water  fi'om  the  canal  on  either  side  was  flowiiii.' 
to  a  depth  of  two  fathoms)  with  very  slight  aiid  ineflicieiit 
means  for  recrossing.     As  Cortez  came  \i[)  to  this  spot,  ho 
began  to  suspect  that  his  men  were  cntraj)ped;   he  saw- 
that  the  causey  ha<l  been  narrowed,  and  at  once  ijcceiviil 
the  terri])le  confusion  that  must  ensue,  in  case  of  preciiii- 
tate  retreat.     While  endeavoring  to  atone  for  this  carelcsa- 


m 


by  fi  more 
/■cry  wliero 
c— ghastly 
the  iusuftl- 
rcd  not  for- 


from  three    ! 
^^rce  battles    ' 
i-  the  great 
orin,  and  its 
;   the    royal 

oul  fortress 
■a,  had  heen 
nade.  Aft''i' 
iuti;  so  mneh 
,  the  general 

orders  for  a 
causeys  to  l.)c 
nes. 
;ul.),  and  San- 

)rning.     ^>i'- 
secure    a  sati' 
the  causeys  as 
icity.    Kegled 
i^^astrous.     An 
(1  V.y  the  little 
3  great  s(iuan', 
usey,  (througli 
ide\vas(1oNviii;.' 
t  and  inclViciciit 

to  this  spot,  lio 
■apped;  he  saw 
,  lynce  pe^-ccivt'il 

case  of  precivi- 

for  this  careless- 


ABORIGINES  OP  MEXICO. 


101 


ness  by  fdling  the  dike,  Cortez  and  his  followers  heard 
the  blast  of  the  horn  of  the  Aztec  emperor,  Guatimozin, 
followed  by  a  deafen iiig  yell  from  his  enraged  warriors, 
and  sliortly  after,  Alderete's  party  were  seen  crowding  the 
causey  in  their  flight  from  an  overwhelming  mass  of  the 
natives.  At  the  gap  a  scene  of  terrible  slaughter  ensued. 
Men  and  horses,  floundering  in  the  deep  mud  to  which 
the  A^•^y  was  reduced;  thrust  into  the  water  by  the  pi'cs- 
sure  of  tlieir  own  numbers,  and  seized  by  the  enemy, 
whose  canoes  filled  the  canals,  ])resented  a  miserable  scene 
of  hopeless  disorder,  Cortez  himself  Avas  nearly  borne 
away  captive,  in  his  endeavors  to  rescue  the  drowning 
suderers  from  the  dike.  Six  stout  warriors  laid  hold  of 
him,  and  would  have  secure*!  him  as  a  notable  cllvring 
to  their  idols,  but  for  the  sclf-sacrilicing  devotion  of  his 
oflficcrs  and  men.  His  whole  surviving  party  were  obliged 
to  I'etroat,  making  their  Avay  back  to  the  camp  under  the 
ju'otecting  fire  of  the  brigantines. 

'J'he  division  nnder  Alvarado  was  also  driven  from  the 
city,  after  having  made  some  hopeful  advance,  driving  in 
their  first  o]iponents.  The  second  body  of  natives  who 
stopped  their  progress,  threw  down  five  Spanish  heads, 
saying  that  they  were  those  of  Cortez  and  his  oflicers.  In 
the  retreat  the  great  drum  was  heard  sounding  from  the 
summit  of  the  principal  teocalli:  "Its  h.ourirful  noise  was 
such  as  may  be  imagined  the  music  of  the  infernal  gods, 
and  it  might  be  heard  at  the  distance  of  almost  three 
leagues."  Diaz,  who  gives  this  description,  says  that  the 
enemy  were  then  sacrilicing  ten  of  the  Spaniards'  hearts 
to  their  gods.  This  was  just  before  the  blast  of  the  royal 
horn— a  signal  which  roused  the  Aztecs  to  an  indescriba 
ble  |)itch  of  fury  and  courage. 

Sandoval  ftired  little  better  than  the  rest,  nnd  the  Span- 
ish army,  completely  foiled,  returned  to  the  several  en- 
campments, fi-ightfidly  reduced  in  nundiers,  deprived  of 


!.«. 


t>\*f 


1,(1'* 


.'  iji 


b1 


W 


.IB '  'f'ittrtk^  \  -i^ji.  '"'a<M«i^ 


102 


INDIAN   HACKS  OF  AMKRICA. 


many  of  tlicir  invalu;il)lc  horses,  and,  al)ove  all,  dispirited 
by  the  thought  that  sixty  or  more  of  their  brethren  wore 
alive  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  destineel  vietinis  at  their 
infernal  orgies. 

As  night  a]iproaehed,  the  booming  of  tlic  great  drum 
on  the  temple  aroused  the  attention  of  the  Spaniards,  and, 
looking  towards  tlie  city,  they  could  distinctly  jnn'ceivc 
BCA'cral  of  their  nnfortunatc  companions  led  up  Ibr  sacri- 
fice, decked  out  in  gaudy  plumes  and  coronals.  A  strong 
light  thrown  by  the  lires  on  the  ])latform  upon  their  -white 
and  naked  bodies  made  the  sickening  siglit  too  palpably 
distinct,  vhilc  the  sliricks  of  the  victims  rose  above  even 
ti:e  rude  d'n  of  barbarous  music  and  exultant  shouts. 
The  ct'rcmony  ^vas  followed  by  a  furious  attack  upon  tlic 
Spanish  cami)S. 

Not  even  scenes  like  this  could  shake  the  indomitable 
resolution  of  these  men  of  iron.  They  continuiMl  lo 
occupy  the  tliivc  causeys  Ly  which  alone  \\\o  city  couM 
he  approached,  except  in  boats,  and  using  every  cnijcavor 
to  cut  olf  sujiplies  of  provisions,  made  a  .steady  and  en- 
trenched advance  upon  the  capital.  For  ten  successive 
nights  thry  witnessed  tlic  hutchcry  of  tlio  S[)anish  ]irisou- 
ers  upon  tl  green  stone  of  sacrilice,  without  tlic  power 
to  render  tliem  the  lea.st  a.ssi.stancc.  As  their  hearts  wim'c 
torn  out  and  burned  before  the  idol,  the  })ri(>sts  ^\yv\s  tlic 
mangled  remains  down  the  stone  step.s. — Some  of  the  in- 
dian.s,  mid  their  taunts  and  reviltngs,  averred  that  the 
Spanisli  flesh  was  "too  l)itter  to  be  eaten;  and  truly, 
it  seems  that  such  a  miracle  was  wrought."  "Jjct  tlio 
reader  think,"  says  the  old  chronicler,  Diaz,  "what  were 
our  sensations  on  this  occasion.  Oh  heavenly  God!  saiil 
we  to  ourselves,  do  not  suffer  us  to  bo  sacrificed  by  these 
wretches." 

To  add  to  the  Spaniards'  distress,  the  great  body  of  their 
Indian  allies  deserted  them  at  this  crisis.     'I'hey  had  be- 


])e[ 
fuf 

a 


gul 


ce 

Til 

arl 


IL. 


ABORIGINES  OF  MEXICO. 


103 


dispirited 
tlircu  were    i 
ms  at  their   j 
i 
ircat  drum    i 
iiiunls,  and, 
i\\  perceive 
ip  for  sacri- 
.     A  strong 
L  tlieir  white 
oo  palpably 

above  even 
Itant  shouts, 
lek  upon  the 

iiuloniitahlt' 
continueil  t'> 
ho  city  could 
orv  cnilcaYor 
t'iidy  and  en- 

(Ml     SUI'CCSSWC 

;inish  ])risoii- 

,lVt    till'    poW.T 

ir  hearts  were 
•iosts  drew  tin' 
)me  of  the  In- 
M-red  that  tli>' 
■  n;    and  truly, 

t;'  "Let  the 
x/,,  "what  were 
iMdy  God!  sai'l 

iticed  by  these 

at  body  of  their 
They  had  Ix'- 


gun  to  lose  their  confidence  in  the  invincibility  of  the 
whites;  and  the  prediction  of  the  Mexican  priests,  that 
within  eight  days  the  besii  gers  should  be  destroyed,  liad 
its  elfeet  upon  tlicir  superstitious  minds.  Ixtilxochitl,  the 
Tczcucan  chief,  who  had  been  raised  by  Cortc/  to  the 
government  of  the  city  on  its  abdication  by  his  enemies, 
remained  faithful. 

When  the  eight  days  were  passed,  tliese  fickle  allies  began 
to  return,  with  Iresh  confidence,  to  the  assistance  of  the 
besiegers.  With  determined  energy  the  Spaniards  forced 
their  passage,  foot  by  foot,  towards  the  centre  of  the  cap- 
ital. Securing  their  way  behind  them,  and  dtiuolishing 
the  buildings  as  they  })roeecded,  they  more  than  recovered 
from  their  grand  reverse.  The  miserable  inhabitants  were 
reduei'il  to  the  utmost  extremity  by  famine.  Crowded 
together  in  the  cpiarter  of  the  city  to  which  they  were 
driven,  they  perished  by  thousimds,  but  nothing  seemed 
to  tamo  their  fierce  and  unyielding  spirit.  Guatimo/Jii 
ivliised  to  listen  to  terms,  although  Cortc/^  repeatedly  sent 
embassies  of  prisoners,  proposing  a  peaceable  cession  of 
the  })lace.  Stores  and  men  were  added  to  the  Spanish 
resources,  by  the  arrival  at  Villa  Kiea  of  a  vessel  belong- 
ing to  a  ileet  fitted  out  by  De  Aillon,  which  was  mostly 
destroyed  on  the  reefs  of  Florida. 

After  the  three  divisions  of  the  army  had  worked  their 
way  completely  through  the  city,  audGviatimo/iu  and  his 
people  were  confined  in  a  limited  district  on  the  lake,  the 
fury  of  their  sallies  seemed  undiminished,  \\nieu  they 
were  liiuilly  unable  longer  to  keep  their  monarch  in  safety, 
a  last  attomj)!  was  made  to  ctfect  au  escape  in  the  pira- 
guas or  lai'ge  canoes. 

The  brigantines  were  immediately  dispatched  to  inter 
cept  and  destroy  the  flotilla  which  now  spotted  the  lake 
The  natives  fi)ught  desperately,  as  usual,  attacking  the 
armed  vessels  of  the  Spaniards,  regardless  of  the  destruc- 


M 


«.ki'>ilk<te-t'; 


104 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AMKHICA. 


tion  occasioned  liy  tlio  iirtillt-rv.  SaiidovMl,  who  com- 
manded in  this  service,  despatched  Oareia  Ilolguin,  with 
the  swiftest  of  the  brij^antines,  to  tlie  spot  where  the  em- 
peror Avouhl  ])njliably  steer,  with  orders  to  take  liini  pris- 
oner aUve,  if  possible. 

Tlie  attempt  was  successful,  and  the  royal  barf^^e  was 
taken,  eontainin<^  Guatinio/.in,  liis  beiiutifiil  wife,  (a  daugh- 
ter or  niece  of  Montezuma)  and  his  chief  lollowers.  lieiiig 
brought  l)ef()re  Cortex,  the  king  addressed  his  eon(pu'rur 
in  terms  of  proud  but  despairing  submission,  bicUliiig  him 
draw  his  ])oiiiard,  and  })ut  an  end  to  the  lile  of  a  mon- 
arch who  had  striven  to  the  last  for  his  people,  but  in 
vain.  Cortez  endeavored  to  reassure  him  by  caresses  and 
kind  words,  ordering  the  queen  and  attendants  to  be 
treati'd  with  courtesy  and  respect. 

While  this  scene  was  enacting,  and  during  the  previous 
day,  a  work  of  such  fearful  carnage  had  been  going  on 
in  the  ^b-xican  (piarters  as  no  pen  can  ileseribc.  No 
one  can  jircsuine  to  enumerate  those  who  fell.  Diaz 
reports  as  Ibllows:  "  What  I  am  going  to  mention  is  truth, 
and  1  swear  and  say  amen  to  it.  I  have  read  of  the  de- 
struction of  Jerusalem,  but  I  cannot  conceive  that  the 
mortality  there  exceeded  this  of  Mexico;  lor  all  the  peo- 
ple fi'om  the  distant  provinces  which  belonged  t(j  this 
empiic,  had  conci,'ntrated  themselves  here,  where  they 
mostly  died.  'I'lie  streets,  the  sipiares,  the  housi's,  and 
the  courts  of  the  Taltelulco,  (where  tiie  Mexicans  were 
last  entrenched)  were  covei'cd  with  dead  bodies;  we  could 
not  step  witliout  treading  on  them;  the  lake  and  canals 
were  filled  with  them,  and  the  stench  was  intolerable." 

It  is  due  to  the  Spanish  general  to  say  that  he  endeav- 
ored repeatedly  to  stay  this  butchery,  but  his  Indian  allies 
could  not  be  restrained,  now  that  an  ojiportunity  was  pre- 
sented for  safely  wreaking  their  vengeance  on  tiieir  her- 
editary iocs. 


tc 


d 

n] 
ill 

fil 


ABOUIGIXES  OF  MEXICO. 


105 


who  com- 
Liuin,  with 
I'c  the  cm- 
}  him  pris- 

barge  was 
.,  (a  (haigh- 
HU     rjcing 

coiKiucror 
liiUUng  him 

()f  II  mou-    || 
,plo,  hut  in 
^iirei^sc'S  and    , . 

Auuts  to  be     ; 

i 

the  previous 
.ni  going  on 
'sc'ril)e.      ^0 
,  I'cU.     iJiii/^ 
tion  is  truth, 
1(1  of  the  de- 
lve that  the 
r  all  the  peo- 
iiiL^'d  to  this 

where  they 
:  housrs,  and 
Lexieans  were 
ics;  we  eould 
<e  and  eanals 
,tohn'able." 
at  lie  endeav- 
Is  Indian  allies 
unity  was  pre- 

on  tiieir  her- 


The  capture  of  Guatimozin,  wliieh  consnmrnated  tho 
confpu'st  of  the  city,  took  place  on  the  lliirtct'utli  of  Au- 
gust, 1521.  All  contention  innnediately  C(>ased  when  this 
was  aecoini)lished.  Diaz  says:  "\Vc  felt  liice  so  many 
men  just  escaped  from  a  steeple  where  ah  the  bells  were 
ringing  about  our  ears. — This  was  owing  to  tho  continual 
noise  of  the  enemy  for  ninetv-thrcc  days — ShoutiiiL',  call- 
iiig,  whistling,  as  signals  to  attack  us,  &c.— Then,  from 
the  temples  and  adoratories  of  their  aeeurst'd  idols,  the 
tindjals  and  horns,  and  the  mournful  sound  of  their  great 
drum,  and  other  dismal  noises  were  incessantly  assailing 
our  eai'S,  so  that  day  or  night  we  could  hardly  liear  each 
other  s]i('ak." 

Vty  (juatimozin's  request,  the  city  was  cleared  of  its 
inhabitants,  that  it  might  be  effectually  purified.  The 
cause\'s  were  crowded  for  three  successive  days  and  nights 
with  a  horde  of  such  miserable,  diseased,  and  helidess 
wretches,  creeping  slowly  away  from  their  former  jjruud 
ca])ital,  "that  it  was  misery  to  behold  them." 

The  booty  discovered  by  the  concpierors  in  no  degree 
equalled  their  anticipations.  It  was  su|>posed  that  great 
quantities  of  gold  had  been  thrown  into  the  lake,  and 
divers  were  employed  in  the  search  for  it,  but  with  little 
cllect.  The  unibrtunate  Guatimo/cin,  and  the  lord  of  the 
city  of  Tacuba  were  put  to  the  torture,  with  the  assent  of 
Cortez,  to  extort  from  them  information  as  to  the  places 
where  they  had  concealed  their  treasures.  Cortex  objected 
to  tliis  ])iece  of  barbarity,  but  ])ermitted  it  that  the  susj)i- 
cioii  might  not  rest  upon  him  of  having,  b}-  connivance, 
a]»propriated  the  plunder  to  his  own  use. 

The  young  monarch,  in  this  extremity,  preserved  his 
dignity  and  composure,  enduring  the  cruelties  of  his  tor- 
mentors with  Indian  fortitude.  ^Vllcn  the  barbarous  in- 
flictions of  the  Spaniards  drewfbi'th  groans  or  complaints 
from  his  companion  in  suffering,  Guatimozin  silenced  him 


■M 


mi 


106 


IXniAN    IfACKS  OF  AMKUH'A, 


■\vitli  the  caltii  iiitovro^'iitivo,  "'J'liink'.st  thon,  tlicii,  that  I 
am  tiikiiij^'  in_v]jlciisurc  in  my  li;itli?''  IS\)tliiii<r  wii.s  gained 
by  llie  iiiliumaii  truiisartioii,  altlioii.L-h  the  ciiiin'ror  told 
of  a  phit'c  ill  the  hik(^  wliciv  ^dld  Juid  Ihtii  tlirown,  and 
the  lord  ol' Taciilja  conCessed  that  he  lia<l  stures  at  a  house 
ill  the  eouiitry.  These  declaratiuiis  were  judlialily  made 
merely  iur  the  ])ur])oso  of  escupiiig  present  anguish. 


CIIAl'TKll   VII. 

RKIITII.DI.NO    (iF    Tin:    (ITV KXTKNSION    OF    SPANISH    I'OWER 

Till;    MAiail  TO    llOVUriiAS KXKI  TTION  OI'    guatimozin 

DO.NNA    MAIM.NA MODKKN    MKXII'O. 


'■\(i\v  tlii'V  lire  iroin" — tTdiu'  as  tliy  scttinj,'  blii/e 
Cioi's  (liiwii  till'  west,  uliili'  iiijrhf  is  pr('SHiii<,'  on, 
Ami  with  tlii'iii  till'  oM  t:iU'  (if  liftti'i-  il.iys, 
And  troj)Iiii'!j  of  reuieiiihorcd  powiT  are  ^'one." 

Bryant. 

AViTillN  .1  few  years  after  the  seeiies  we  have  just  de- 
scribed, the  royal  eity  of  tlie  Aztec  moiiarehs  rose  from 
its  ruins  with  renewed  s])lendor;  hut  under  what  dill'ereiit 
cireumsttineesfrom  those  Avhieh  attended  its  first  estahlish- 
ment!  ^i'lie  ))roiid-si)irited  nation,  reduced  to  (l(><>fadiii<T 
servitude',  was  eomiielled  to  build  and  jjlant  for  the  bene- 
fit of  the  victorious  Spaniiirds,  whose  power  daily  in- 
creased with  lh(>  multitudes  Hocking  from  the  Old  World  to 
seek  wealth  or  novelty  in  the  suimy  elinies  oi' Ni'w  Spain. 

The  modern  eity  of  Mexico  presents  a  \evy  dillerent 
a.s])eet  fr(;m  that  of  the  ancient  capital.  By  the  drainage 
of  the  lake,  it  no  loi.ger  stands  upon  an  island;  and  the 
causeys,  which  k'd  to  it,  still  used  as  public  roads,  are  said 
to  be  scarcely  distinguishable  from  the  other  highways. 


t( 

til 

sl 

til 

til 

\\\ 

sl 


AHOIUGINKH  OF  MKXICO. 


107 


lOTl,  tllilt  I 

vas  Ki""*'*! 
jiL'for  toUl 
ivown,  iind 

!l1   !l  house 

lahly  iniide 
fuisli. 


[I    POWER 

iTlMOZlN 


ze 
oil, 

r"  i 

ITANT.  i 

lavc  just  de- 
lis rose  IVom 
vliat  (lilVnvut 
ir.st  establish- 
to  d(<,iATa«liug 

H,r  the  Ik'UG- 
WCY   daily   iu- 

()M  World  to 
)l'Ne\v  Si.aiu. 
yvvy  dilVerent 
V  the  drainage 
land;  and  the 
roads,  are  said 
r  highways. 


All  the  surrounding  tribes  who  did  not  yield  implicitly  to 
the  dictates  of  the  general,  wiien  the  great  city  was  de- 
stroyed, were  jironiptiy  ipielled  and  humbled.  Conlirmed 
in  ids  authority  liy  royal  commission — for  tiic  ellbils  of 
liis  enemies  could  avail  little  against  the  universal  accla- 
mation which  ibllowed  the  news  of  his  successes — CorteJi 
contiiined  to  increase  the  extent  of  Spanish  dominion,  and 
still  more  clVeclually  to  crush  all  spirit  of  o])[)osition  among 
the  miserable  Mexicans.  We  cannot  detail  the  terrible 
examples  of  vengeance  which  followed  any  attempt  to 
throw  off  the  galling  yoke.  With  such  coadjutors  as 
Alvai-ado,  Sandoval,  and  other  of  his  veteran  ollicers, 
resistance  to  his  sui)remacy  proved  worse  tlum  vain.  The 
stake  or  the  halter  was  the  ready  instrument  by  wduch  the 
crime  (;f  rebellion  was  punished. 

In  Octobei-  of  152f ,  Cortez,  with  a  small  force  of  Span- 
iards, and  a  large  body  of  natives,  undertook  a  long  and 
dillicult  march  to  Honduras.  Jlis  jiui'pose  was  to  chastise 
the  rebellious  de  Olid,  who  had  thrown  olT  his  gt'iicral's 
authoi'ity.  Although  the  details  of  the  dangers,  hard- 
ships, and  adventures  in  this  expedition  are  minute  and 
interesting,  we  oidy  refer  to  it  as  giving  occasion  for  the 
desti'uetion  of  the  last  A/.tce  monarch.  Continually  ap- 
])rehensive  of  a  new  revolt,  Cortez  had,  ever  since  the 
con(|Ucst,  kept  his  I'oyal  prisoner  a  close  attendant  on  his 
person.  Together  with  his  faithful  vassal,  tlu;  h^rd  of 
'J'aijuba,  Guatimo/dn  was  taken  to  accomjniny  the  ])arty 
to  Ilondui'as.  At  (rueyacala,  or  Aculan,  a  consjMraey  of 
the  Mexicans  in  the  train  to  fall  u])oii  and  massacre  the 
Spanianls,  was  reported  to  the  gencrid,  and  attributed  to 
the  influence  of  these  two  nobles.  All  jiarticipation  in 
this  jilot  was  denied  by  the  captives,  but  slight  suspicion 
was  sullicient  to  furnish  an  excuse  to  the  unscrupulous 
Sj)aniard  for  ridding  himself  of  a  constant  source  of  anxiet  v. 

Guatimozin  and  the  Tacuban  governor  were  both  han<ied 


108 


INDIAN    HACKS  OF  AMKUIOA. 


by  liis  (tfilcM-s.  Diaz  iilliinis  that  tlioro  was  but  oik^  opin- 
ion ainoiif,' tlio  foiM]taiiy,  that  tliis  was  "u  most  unjust  and 
fiHU'I  sciitcnt'i'."  lie  jii'octHMls  to  say  tliat  Corttv,  suI1'«M'(m.I 
iiuu'li  in  Ills  coiiscicMw  lortliis  act — "lie  was  so  distrarti-d 
by  these  tliouj.'-lits  tliat  ho  couM  not  rest  in  his  bed  at 
ui<i'ht,  and,  jfrtt'w^  up  in  the  dark  to  waljc  about,  as  a  re- 
bel' iVuni  liis  anxieties,  he  went  into  a  hir^rc;  apartiueut 
where  sonu'  ol'  tiie  idols  were  worshi|)ped.  Here  ho  missed 
his  wa}',  and  fell  I'rom  the  hoi^dit  of  twelve  feet,  to  the 
jj'i'oniid,  I'l'ei'ivinL^  a  desperate  wound  and  contusions  in 
his  head,  'i'his  eireumstanee  he  tried  to  conceal,  keeping 
his  siillerin;/s  to  himself,  and  getting  his  liurts  cured  as 
well  as  he  eould," 

.\n  interesting  incident  occurred  on  this  march  relative 
to  the  historv  of  the  liuthful  interpreter  l)onnii  Marina. 
The  course  taken  led  the  army  through  her  native  prov- 
ince, and  it  so  chanced  that,  at  a  groat  conclave  of  chiefs 
and  piincijial  inhabitants  to  liv)ld  conference  with  the  Span- 
iards, hei'  mother  and  brother  were  present.  The  unna- 
tural parent,  who  had  so  long  before  sold  luu'  daneliler  as 
a  slavt',  thought  the  hour  of  retribution  was  at  hand,  bnt 
^farina  encoui'agod  and  caressed  Ikt,  making  her  olferim^s 
of  jewels  and  other  attractive  trille.s.  She  avoweil  her 
atrai-hmeiit  to  the  Spaniards  and  their  religion,  e.\[ii-essing 
great  ])i'ide  and  satisfaction  in  the  .son  and  the  husband, 
for  both  of  ^vhom  she  stood  indebted  to  her  noble  master 
and  IViend. 

We  nuust  now  take  leave  of  tlie  lii.storical  detail  of  Mex- 
ican chronich's,  with  a  few  remark.s  upon  the  condition  of 
the  Indians  subsc(|uent  to  the  conquest,  the  changes  Hincc 
wrought  by  lapse  of  time,  the  introduction  of  a  foreign 
popidation,  and  the  mixture  of  races. 

For  a  long  period  the  mass  of  the  natives  were  eom[)el- 
led  to  waste  their  lives  in  hopeless  toil  on  the  plantations, 
in  the  mines,  or  at  the  rising  cities  of  tlieir  ojipressorsi. 


Sll 

.sol 
ri(| 
rii 
af| 

o( 
ml 

a[ 

as 


Olio  opm- 
111) list  ami 
>/  sulVfivd 
(llstractctl 
lis  lit-'<l  ut  j 
lit,  us  11  rc- 
;i|)iirtmcnt 

•  lu".  iiiisscd 
loot,  t.)  tlio 
iitiisioiH  in 
111,  b'i'l>iiij,' 
ta  curt  1 1  as 

ivh  rclativo   ji 
iiiii  Marina.     1 
lativo  jirov-    || 
\c  of  cliiuis 
til  tlu'Spau- 
Tlie  iiiina- 
dauilliti'r  as 
at  hantl,  l>nt 
her  olVeriM^;s 
avoweil  lirr 
1^  oxi'rcssiii.L' 
ho,  iiuribanil, 
iKjlAc  niasli-T 

etail  of  :Mox- 

•  condition  of 
clian.m'S  siiii'c 

of  a  foreign 

were  compel- 
10  plantations, 
ir  oppressors. 


AUOUKUNES  OF  .MKXICO. 


109 


Cortex  felt  and  c\))rcss(>d  .some  oompnnetion.s  visitin,^nt  of 
CDiiseiencuat  the  adoption  of  this  general  .system  ol' shivery, 
but  fell  in  with  it  us  biiini,'  essential  to  the  niaintainaneo 
of  Spanish  power  and  the  .speedy  growth  of  the  cohjnies. 
lie  .saw  that  the  mental  ca])a('ity  of  tlic  people  was  far 
superior  to  that  of  the  other  Xoi'th  American  aliorioines^ 
and  felt  sonit!  natural  rej^'ret  that  their  national  ])ride  should 
he  entirely  humbled,  and  their  opportunities  for  eivili/ation 
and  imiirovenient  bo  so  entirely  cut  off,  A  better  state 
of  things  was  gradually  brought  about,  and  tlie  inhabit- 
ants  of  pure  native  descent  arc  now  .spoken  of  as  a  cheer- 
ful, eoiirtt'oiis  ra('(>,  busying  themselves  in  the  simpler  arts 
of  manullieture,  cultivating  their  lield.s,  and  enjoyiug  th(> 
C(  [liable  freedom  from  anxiety,  so  congenial  to  the  mild 
and  delicious  climate  of  their  country. 

J'nliiue,  the  intoxicating  drink  of  the  Mexicans,  is  j)ro- 
diictiveof  the  evil  ellects  that  such  beverages  abvays  ])ro- 
diice  among  the  Indians  of  America;  and,  in  the  largo 
cities,  a  disgusting  horde  of  laxaroni  disligures  the  i)ublic 
.S(]uarc.s.  In  the  city  of  Mexico,  these  beggars  are  espe- 
cially numerous. 

The  half-breeds,  who  form  at  the  present  day  so  exten- 
sive a  portion  of  the  population,  jiresent  every  variety  of 
.social  position.  Some  of  Monte/.uma's  descendants  mar- 
ried into  noble  families  of  S})ain,  and  their  po.sterity  ar- 
rived at  great  wealth  and  dignity.  The  wife  of  Guatimozin, 
after  his  execution,  mari'icd  successively  no  less  than  three 
Castilians  of  honorable  family,  She  is  every  where  spoken 
of  as  a  woman  of  charming  a])pearance  and  attractive 
mannens.  A  descendant  of  the  Ibrmer  cmjieror  of  the 
Aztecs  held  the  office  of  S{)anish  viceroy  in  Mexico  as  late 
as  the  close  of  the  seventeenth  century. 


THE  FLORIDA  INDIANS. 


CUAI'TEU  I. 

EAUI.Y  F.XriMIITIONS  01-   SPANISH  ADVKNTIIinCHS ro.NCK  UK  LKON 

L.  VALASlJUEZ   DK  AVLLON PAMI'IIILO    DK   NAKVAi;/, I'Kli- 

NA.N'Di)   hi:  SOTO HIS   I,AM)IN"(i   AM:   KSTA  HLISIIM  K.NT 

AT   TAMl'A STOUY  OF  JOHN    OUTIZ,  A  SI'AMSH 

CAi'TIVIi    AMO.NT;    THK    INDIANS. 

Fkw  })ortions  of  the  Western  Continent  have  witnessed 
sucli  scenes  of  barbarous  warfare  between  the  natives  and 
I'lnropean  advenliirei's,  or  between  subjects  of  coniending 
nations  at  the  I'last,  as  the  long  low  peninsula  wliicii  lies 
at  the  soullierr'  extremity  of  the  Atlantic  sea-coast  of  the 
United  States,  lis  whole  history  is  strangely  romantic, 
and  might  well  tempt  us  away  I'rom  our  subject,  were  there 
room  to  chronicle  all  the  interesting  details  of  its  discov- 
ery, conipicst  and  scttlemt-nt. 

The  Inst  picture  presented  to  our  minds,  when  wc  turn 
back  to  th(\<e  early  timers,  is  of  ,Iuan  Ponce  de  Leon,  gov- 
ernor of  Porto  Kico,  led  by  Jndian  fables  in  1512  to  search 
amid  the  low  islands  of  the  coast  for  a  fountain  that  should 
bestow  perpeiual  youth;  landing  upon  the  green  and  llow- 
erv  shores,  and  bestowing  upon  the  country  its  pleasing 
and  musical  ap])ellation.  AW  of  North  America,  to  the 
north wa I'd  and  eastward  of  ^lexico,  went  by  tli(>  name 
of  Florida,  belbre  Knglish  settlements  were  made  upon 
the  coast.  Failing  in  his  first  search,  Leon  undertook  a 
second  expedition  into  the  unknown  world,  in  hopes  of 
finding  mines  of  the  precious  metals,  but  was  killed  in  a 
fight  with  the  natives. 


M) 


S|l 

cJ 
df 


i  i 


IXON — 
I'l'.li- 


itncssccl 
ves  iuid 
itendiiiij; 
lich  lies 
;t  of  tlio 
omantie, 
>re  there 
s  discov- 

wc  turn 
:!on,  gov- 
to  pcareh 
lit  t^liould 
and  llow- 
i  pleasing 
<a,  to  the 
the  name 
adc  upon 
(U^rtook  a 

hopes  of 
villed  in  a 


FLORIDA  1XJ)IAXS. 


Ill 


The  perfidious  Luko  Valasquez  do  Ayllou,  in  ITjlS,  vis- 
ited the  eoasttothe  northward  of  Florida,  to  procure  gohl 
and  shives.  'I'lie  kindly  natives,  wlioni  he  tempted  on 
hoard,  were  shut  under  hatches,  and  conveyed  to  Cuha. 
Iteturniiig  again  to  the  country,  he  and  his  paity  were 
justly  punished  for  their  treachery,  nearly  all  of  thein 
being  slain  hy  the  inliabitants,  wlio,  mindful  of  former 
injuries,  rose  upon  them  unawares,  after  putting  them  off 
their  guard  by  demonstrations  of  friendship.  Those  who 
had  been  carried  into  servitude  mostly  perisheil,  some  by 
voluntary  starvation,  and  others  from  grief  and  despair. 

The  Indians  of  Florida  are  represented  by  all  early  his- 
torians as  a  high-spirited  and  courageous  race,  slunving 
consideralile  skill  in  agriculture,  and  exhibiting  marks  of 
far  greater  civilization  than  those  of  the  North.  It  seems 
not  im[)robab!e,  judging  from  their  traditions,  ap'pcaranec 
and  customs,  that  they,  as  well  as  the  Natchez,  had  emi- 
grated from  jMexico,  perhaps  at  no  wry  remote  period. 
They  resided  in  towns  and  villages  of  considerable  extent, 
and  showed  a  degree  of  resolution  and  despci'ate  valor, 
in  defending  their  homes  against  the  murderous  Spaniards, 
which  lias  seldom  been  eipialled.  Unappalled  by  the  ter- 
rible execution  of  the  unknown  weapons  of  their  enemies, 
who,  mounted  upon  liorses  (hilhertu  unknown  in  the  coun- 
try) and  (;l;id  in  defensive  aritKjr,  presented  a  novel  and 
unaccountable  spectacle  to  their  wondering  eyes,  they  dis- 
puted the  invatk'd  territory  inch  by  inch. 

Like  UKjst  of  their  red  brethren,  they  could  not  long 
brook  the  indignity  of  slavery;  the  proud  spirit  of  tlu; 
Indian  can  never,  lilce  that  of  the  African,  be  so  liunibled 
that  his  race  can  continue  and  multiply  in  servitude. 

The  old  Portuguese  narrator  of  De  Soto's  conquest, 
speaking  of  tlie  Indian  slaves  of  Cuba,  says  that  their 
custom  was  to  hang  themselves,  to  escape  the  toil  and 
degradation  of  working  the  mines     Ue  tells  of  an  over- 


H's 


'i,  ,* 


112 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


9 

i 


sccr  in  the  service  of  Vaseo  Poi-eallio,  (ufterwiirds  Do  Soto's 
licutciuuit-goiieral,)  who,  "knowing  the  Indians  nnder  his 
diar;'<!  1';kI  resolved  1o  hanti'  tliemselvos,  went  and  staid 
for  theiu  at  the  i)lace  where  tliey  intended  to  })Ut  tliis  dis- 
mal resolution  into  exeeutioii,  with  a  ro])o  in  his  liaiid:  lie 
told  them  they  must  not  imagine  tliat  any  of  their  di'signs 
Averc  liid  from  him,  and  that  he  was  come  tt)  hang  himself 
Avitli  them,  that  he  might  torment  tliem  in  the  oilier  world 
an  Imiidred  times  more  than  lie  liad  done  in  this."  llis 
c\}K'dient  liad  the  desired  elfect  u])on  their  superstitious 
and  creduh)us  minds,  and,  giving  up  their  purpose,  they 
returned  submissiv-'ly  to  their  tasks. 

ram[ihilo  de  jS'arvaez,  in  A])i'il,  1528,  with  a  commission 
from  Charles  the  {•"il'th  to  eon([Uer  anil  take  jmssession, 
landed  l^ur  hundred  men  and  forty  or  lifty  horses  at  Jvist 
Florida.  JV'nelratiiig  the  wilderness,  they  erossi'd  the 
country  to  Ajij)ala('lie,  sometimes  ex[)erienciiig  kind  ti'eat- 
ment  li'om  the  Indians,  at  other  times  in  daiigt'r  ii'(iia  their 
atiaeks.  Kiadiug  no  gi)ld,  and  but  little  pi'ovision  at  this 
town,  i'rom  which  they  drove  out  the  inhahitants  on  their 
first  arrival,  the  Spaniards  shaped  their  course  to  the  south 
towards  Ante.  'J'ormented  by  hunger;  beset  by  hi<hien 
foes;  disheartened  by  the  terrible  diflieultics  whit-h  beset 
their  i>ath,  i'rom  the  almost  impassable  natui'al  conforma- 
tion of  the  country;  and  worn  out  by  incessant  exertion, 
Isarvaez  ami  his  men  reached  Ante  only  to  liiul  it  burned 
and  deserted  by  its  inhabitants. 

Many  of  the  l>arty  having  already  jierished,  the  I'est, 
hopeless  of  making  further  jirogress  by  land,  set  to  work 
to  construct  boats  in  wiiich  liny  might  reach  a  port  of 
sali'ty.  With  singular  ingvnuity  liu'V  prepared  tonjs  from 
the  iron  ol'  their  accoutri'nicnts;  and,  with  no  further  mate- 
rials than  were  furnished  by  the  ])roductions.of  the  I'orest, 
and  the  numes,  tails,  and  skins  of  their  horses,  live  small 
boats  were  built.     They  embarked  and  set  sail,  but  nearly 


I  an 
lai 
(In 
vai 

CCi 

de; 
but 

nea 
sess 
l,ea 
Sot 

llUI 

USCi 

bar 


l 


4^ 


^C  Soto'3 

.11(1  staid 
this  dis- 
uuul:  lie 
r  designs 
j;  liiniselt' 
iioi'  world 
lis."  His 
lerstitious 
lose,  they 


Minuission 
K)SSCSsion, 
;rs  ;it  K;ist 
■ossrd    the 
kind  trc:it- 
iVum  tlu'ir 
quii  at  til  is 
its  on  their    1 
o  the  so\ith    j 
liy  hidden    j 
;W\A\   beset 
,  eoiiforiiiii- 
it  exertion, 
d  it  bnrncd 

•d,  the  rest, 
set  to  work 
■h  :i  port  of 
d  tools  from 
'urther  mate- 
,r  the  forest, 
-s,  live  small 
1.  l)Ut  nearly 


FLOltlDA  INDlrVN'S. 


113 


.1,11  perished,  either  hy  famine  or  by  the  dangers  of  the  sea. 
Only  a  handfid  of  the  number  were  ever  heard  from, 
among  whom  was  Alvar  Nunez  Cabcza  dc  Vaca.  With 
only  four  companions  he  ke})t  on  his  course  to  the  West, 
and,  after  yeaivs  of  peril,  hai'dship,  and  servitude,  reached 
the  Spanish  settlements  of  Mexico. 

The  next  S})anish  expedition  to  Florida  was  of  far  more 
importance  and  interest  than  either  that  had  precede<l  it. 
^riie  celebrated  Fernando  dc  Soto,  after  acquiring  an 
inuncnse  fortune  as  a  companion  of  Pizarro,  at  Peru,  was 
moved  by  the  restless  spirit  of  adventure  to  undcrtalce  a 
more  complete  examination  of  the  New  'W'orld  opened  to 
Spanish  cupidity  and  curiosity. 

With  seven  ships  of  his  own  })roviding,  and  accom})a- 
nicd  by  from  six  hundred  to  one  thousand  warlike  and 
energetic  adventiu'crs,  many  of  whom  were  of  noble  rank, 
])e  Soto  set  sail,  in  the  month  of  April,  1538.  Upwards 
of  a  year  was  spent,  mostly  upon  the  island  of  Cuba,  before 
the  fleet  set  sail  for  the  Florida  coast.  In  the  latter  part 
of  ^Fay,  loo!),  the  vessels  came  to  anchor  oft'  the  bay  of 
Fs])iritu  Santo,  now  Tampa  Buy,  on  the  western  sea-boai-d, 
and  a  large  division  of  soldiers,  both  horse  and  foot,  wi're 
landed.  The  Indians  had  taken  the  alarm,  and,  although 
the  smoke  of  their  iires  had  been  seen  from  ship-board  in 
various  directions,  all  had  fled  from  the  district,  or  lay  con- 
cealed in  the  thickets.  De  Soto  appears  to  have  been 
desirous  to  proceed  upon  p(>aeeable  terms  with  the  natives, 
but  hostilities  soon  follo\ve(l.  Some  skirmishes  took  j)laee 
near  the  point  of  landing,  and  the  Spaniards  speiMJilv  pos- 
sessed themselves  of  the  nearest  village,  where  were  the 
hcad-(piarters  of  the  caeicpie  Fcita  or  Iliriga.  Ilci-e  De 
Soto  established  himsell'  in  ''the  lord's  house,"  which  was 
built  upon  a  mound  by  the  sea-shore;  while  the  soldiers 
used  the  materials  of  the  other  buildings  in  constructing 
barracks, 
8 


"^  f  ^  t  \    '>  H 


l\\ 


'  id 


yt 


1'  'I 


114 


INDIAN   RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


t 


At  the  inluud  extri'initj  of  tlic  town  stood  tlic  temple 
devoted  by  the  Judiaiis  to  rehgious  observiinces.  Over  the 
eiitrauco  of  this  buiUhng  was  tlic  wooden  iigure  of  a  ibwl, 
having  the  eyes  gilded — placed  there  for  the  pnrpose  of 
ornament,  or  as  symbolic  of  the  tutelary  deity  (jf  the  })lace. 

Clearings  were  mnv  made  around  the  village,  to  give  free 
scope  to  the  operations  of  the  cavalry,  and  parties  were 
sent  out  to  explore  ^he  country,  and  to  malvC  prisoners 
who  should  sei'vi^  as  guides  or  hostages. 

The  remembrance  of  hoi'i'ible  outrages  committed  ujion 
himself  and  his  people  by  Narvae/,  had  so  end)ittered  the 
old  eliief  lliriga  against  the  whites,  that  no  jirofessions  of 
friendship  and  good  will  could  appease  his  hati'ed.  J)e 
Soto  released  prisoners  who  were  taken  by  his  scouting 
parties,  charging  them  with  presents  and  conciliatory  mes- 
sages for  their  chief,  but  all  in  vain. 

In  the  tangled  forests  and  marshes  the  Indians  were 
found  to  be  no  eonteniptible  oi)ponents.  Tiiey  were  de- 
scribed as  being  "so  dexterous  fierce  and  nimble  that  loot 
can  gain  no  advantage^  u|»on  them.''  Their  bows  and  aiTows 
were  so  elVective  that  coats  of  mad  did  not  prove  a  sulli- 
cient  ])roteeti()n  agains:^  their  force.  'J'iie  arrows  wei-e 
headed,  as  usual,  with  stone,  or  with  fish-bones;  those 
v/hich  were  maile  of  canes  or  reeds  produced  the  dead- 


liest 


enet 


t. 


A   jiai'ty,  iindi-r  Gallegos,  scouring  the  count ry  a  I 
miles  from  the  camp  attacked  a  small  body  of  lndian^ 
piit  th(>m  to  flight;  but,  as  a  horseman     as  changing 
his  lance  at  one  of  the  number,   1 
h 
tl 


e\v 


,  aii'l 
with 


le  was  amazed  to  near 


1  t. 


m  cry  out:   "Sirs,  Lam  a  Christian;  do  not  kill  me, 


nor 


ies(!  poor  men,  who  li;i\t>  given  me  m 


ylif( 


Naked,  snn-biirned.  and  painted,  this  man  was  scarce 


distinguishable  from  I 


lis  wild  associates. 


Jl 


IS  name;  was 


John  Ortiz,  and  he  had  lived  with   the  Indians  twelv.i 
years,  U'iiig  one  of  the  few  followers  of  Narvaez  who 


e\] 

th.i 

I). 

acij 

sul 

On 

.I'l 
in 

whl 

fini 

pe^ 

of 


■s? 


!  temple 
Over  the 

if  a  fowl, 
qiose  of 
he  phice. 
oive  free 
ties  were 
prisoners 

Iteil  upon 
ttered  the 

forisioiis  of  i  j 

vtred.     IK-  1 

s  scouting  i 

latory  mcrf-  ij 

flians  \V(M-e   ' 
V  \\v\v  (If-    I 
ic  that  foot 
and  arrows 
ove  a  sulli- 

rows  were 
)nes;  those 
i  the  dead- 
Ill  try  a  few 
liidiaii>,  and 
K'l.-ii'ini!;  Willi 
izt'd  to  hear 

kill  me,  nor 


1  was  scarce 

is  namc^  was 

lians  twelve 

Sarvaez  who 


FLORIDA  IN  ni  ANSI. 


115 


escaped  dcsti-iiction.  Since  tlie  disastrons  failure  of  that 
expedition  he  had  made  his  way  to  Cuba  in  a  small  boat, 
and  liad  returned  again  to  Florida  in  a  smtill  vessel  sent 
in  f[uest  of  the  lost  ])arty.  Th'  Indians  enticed  a  few  of 
1lie  crew  on  shore,  and  made  thern  prisoners.  Ortiz,  was 
among  the  number,  and  was  the  only  one  who  escaped 
immediate  death.  After  amusing  themselves  by  various 
(wpcdients  to  terrify  and  torment  their  captive,  the  sav- 
;iges,  by  the  command  of  their  chief,  Iliviga,  bound  him  to 
four  stakes,  and  kindled  a  fire  beneath  hiin.  lie  was  ])re- 
servcd,  even  in  this  extremity,  by  the  comjiassionate  entrea- 
ties and  persuasions  of  a  daughter  of  the  cacique.  ITis 
burns  having  been  healed,  he  was  deputed  to  kec])  watch 
over  the  temple  where  the  bodies  of  the  dead  were  depos- 
ited, to  defend  tlicin  from  attacks  of  wolves.  His  vigilnnce 
and  resolution,  in  dis])ati'hing  a  wolf,  panther,  or  "Lyon," 
(according  to  one- account)  which  had  seized  the  body  of  a 
cliild  of  one  of  the  principal  chiefs,  aroused  a  kindly  feel- 
ing tov\-ai'ds  him,  and  he  was  well  iised  for  three  years. 
At  the  end  of  that  tiine  Tliriga,  liaving  lieen  Avorstcd  in 
fight  with  Moscoso,  a  hostile  chief  whose  dwelling  was  at 
a  distance  of  two  days'  journey,  thought  it  necessary  or 
expedient  to  make  a  sacrifice  of  his  Christian  subject  to 
the  devil.  "Seeing,"  says  onr  Portuguese  historian,  "the 
Devil  holds  tliesi'  pco[ile  in  deplorable  bondage,  tliev  are 
accustomed  to  oiler  to  him  the  life  and  blond  even  t)f  their 
sul)jects,  or  of  any  body  else  that  falls  into  their  hands." 
l*\)re\varncd  of  this  danger  by  his  former  benefactress, 
Ortiz  fled  in  the  night  towards  the  country  of  ^loseoso. 
Upon  lirst  meeting  with  the  subjects  of  this  chief,  lu^  was 
in  great  danger  from  the  want  of  an  interpreter  to  exj)lain 
whence  he  came,  and  what  was  liis  errand;  but,  at  last, 
finding  an  Indian  who  understood  the  language  of  the 
people  with  wdiom  he  had  lived,  he  (piieted  the  suspicions 
of  his  hosts,  and  remained  with  them  in  friendship  no  less 


m 

'4 


■-},■> 


wfi 


m 


» ■S,\i,ii;'f  r 


I* 


"^ 


K^'t'i 


I 


116 


IN'DIAX   KAOES  OF  AMERICA.' 


than  nine  years.  Moseoso,  lieaj'ing  of  tlie  arrival  of  De 
Soto,  generously  furiiislied  liis  eaptive  lyitli  an  eseort,  and 
gave  lilna  free  ponnission  to  return  to  his  eountrymen,  in 
accordance  with  a  promise  made  when  Ortiz  lirst  caine  to 
his  territory. 

The  long-lost  Sjvuiiard  was  joyfully  received,  witli  his 
companions,  at  De  Soto's  camp ;  his  services  as  guide  being 
considered  invaluable.  In  answer  to  the  lirst  inquiry, 
however,  where  gold  was  to  be  sought,  he  could  give  no 
satisfactory  in  formation. 

The  cacique  ^^oscoso  being  sent  for,  soon  presented  him- 
self at  the  Spanish  cncamjtment,  and  after  spending  some 
days  in  familiar  intercourse  with  the  wonderful  stranger.s, 
dejxvrted,  exulting  in  the  possession  of  a  shirt  and  other 
tokens  of  royal  munificence. 


CHAPTER  II. 

I'KOGRESS  NORTFrWARD — CONTESTS  WITH  THE  NATIVES VITACHUCO 

EXPEDITION  TO  CUTIFACHUiUI DEI'AKTURE  FOR  THE  WEST. 

*•  *  *  *  *  The  long  bare  iirnis 

Aiv  I)ca\  I'd  aloft,  bows  tw;ing  and  arrows  stream ; 
Eai'li  niakoH  a  tree  his  shield,  and  every  tree 
Sends  forth  its  arrow.     Fieree  the  tiyht  and  short 
Aa  is  the  wliirlwind." — Bryant. 

De  Soto  now  concluded  to  send  his  vessels  back  to  Cuba, 
and  leaving  a  strong  guard  in  Iliriga's  country,  to  ju-ocecd 
northward.  Favorable  accounts  were  brought  by  his  emis- 
saries from  the  adjoining  district  of  Paracoxi,  and  delud- 
ing hoj)es  of  procuring  g(jld  invited  to  still  more  distant 
expluration  in  Cale.  Vasco  Porcallio,  wearied  and  dis- 
gusted with  lio])elcss  and  desultory  .skirmishing  among  the 


stra 
tli(i 

cat 

anJ 


M 


1  of  Be 
;ort,  and 
nncn 
came  to 


idi' being 

inquiry, 

d  give  no 

■ntcd  \rnu- 
iling  some 
straiigevs, 
and  otlicr 


—viTAcnuco 

riiE  WEST. 


!iin ; 


wxi 


acl<  to  Cuba, 


V.  to  prof 


Oftl 


:l,yl\isenii<- 

i,  ;ind  ddud- 

more  distant 

(h1   and  tlis- 

(1-  iunotig  t'l^' 


FLOUIDA  INDIANS. 


117 


swamps  and  morasses,  resigned  bis  conunission,  and  left 
witli  the  squadron. 

The  Spanisli  force,  proceeding  np  the  country,  passed 
with  great  dillieulty  the  extensive  morass  now  known  as 
the  AVahoo  Swamp,  and  came  to  Calo  in  the  soutlierti 
portion  of  Alaclma.  The  inhabitants  of  the  town,  wliirh 
was  hirgo,  and  gave  tokens  of  thrift  and  abundance,  had 
fled  into  the  woods,  except  a  few  stragglers  who  Avere  taken 
pi'isoners.  The  troo]>s  fell  upon  the  stored  provisions, 
and  ravaged  the  fields  of  maize  with  the  eagerness  of  fam- 
ished men. 

Leaving  Cale  on  tlie  11th  of  August,  De  Soto  pressed 
forward  to  the  populous  town  of  Ochile.  Here,  without 
pretence  of  coming  as  friends,  the  soldiers  fell  upon  tlie 
inliabitants,  and  overpowered  them  by  the  suddenness  of 
their  attack.  The  country  was  imder  the  rule  of  three 
brothel's,  one  of  whom  was  taken  prisoner  in  the  town. 
The  second  brother  came  in  afterwards  upon  the  receijtt 
of  fi'iendly  messages  from  the  Spanish  general,  but  the 
elder,  Yitacliuco,  gave  the  sternest  and  most  liauglity 
responses  to  all  embassies  proposing  conciliatory  measures. 
Appearing,  at  last,  to  be  convinced  by  the  persuasion  of 
his  two  brotluM's,  who  were  sent  to  him,  he  consented  to 
a  meeting.  "Witli  a  large  company  of  chosen  warriors,  he 
proceeded  to  De  Soto's  encampment,  and,  witli  due  f  )rinal- 
ity,  entered  into  a  league  of  friendship,  l^oth  nrniies 
betook  themselves  to  the  principal  village  of  Vitachuco, 
and  royal  entertainment  was  p/epared. 

The  treacherous  cacique,  notwithstanding  these  demon- 
strations, gathered  an  immcns(>  fu'ce  of  his  subjects  around 
tlie  town,  with  a  view  of  surprising  and  annihilating  the 
Spaniards;  but  the  vigilance  of  John  Ortiz  averted  the 
catastrophe. 

Preparations  WTre  at  once  made  to  anticipate  the  attack; 
and  so  successful  were  they  carried  out,  that  the  principal 


i^:^. 


<    U  >M 


^>'k 


m 


118 


INDIAN   BACKS  OF  AMERICA. 


ciiciquc  AVU3  sceuivd,  and  his  army  routed.  Muny  of  tlie 
fiiifitives  wore  (.Irivcn  into  a  lake,  wliere  tlioy  foiicTuled 
thcrnselves  by  covering'  their  lieads  with  tlu;  leaves  of 
water-lilies.  The  lake  was  surrounded  by  the  Spanish 
troops,  but  sueh  was  tht;  jvsolution  of  the  Indians,  that 
they  remained  the  whole  nijjfht  innuersed  in  -water,  and, 
on  the  followin,u;  day,  when  tlie  rest  had  delivei'ed  them- 
selves up,  ''bein^u-  t'nnstrained  by  the  sharpness  of  the  eold 
that  they  endured  in  the  water,"  twelve  still  held  out, 
resolving' to  die  rather  than  surrender.  Chilled  and  stu- 
jiefled  by  the  exposure,  these  were  dra;:^<^'ed  ashore  bv  some 
Indians  of  I'araeoxi,  belonging  to  De  iSoto's  party,  who 
swam  after  ihem,  and  seized  them  by  the  hair. 

Although  a  prisoner,  with  his  ehief  warrii)rs  nduced  to 
the  condition  of  servants,  Vitaehueo  did  uot  lay  aside  his 
daring  purposes  of  revenge,  lie  managed  to  eireulate  the 
order  among  his  men,  that  on  a  day  ap])ointe(l,  -while  the 
Spaniards  were  at  dinner,  every  Indian  should  attack  th(> 
one  nearest  him  with  v.hatevei-  weajton  eame  to  hand. 

AVhen  the  time  arrived,  Vitaehueo,  who  was  seated  at 
the  general's  table,  rallying  himself  for  a  despei'ate  ellbit, 
s])rang  uj)on  his  host,  and  endeavored  to  strangle  him. 
"This  blade,"  says  the  Portuguese  mirrator,  "fell  up.-n  the 
general ;  but  before  he  could  get  his  two  hands  to  his  throat, 
ho  gave  him  such  a  furious  blow  with  his  list  u]ion  the 
face  that  he  jnit  him  all  in  a  gore  of  blotxl."  I)e  Soto 
had  doubtless  ])erislied  by  the  unarmed  hands  of  the  mus- 
cidar  and  determined  chief,  had  not  his  attendants  ru.shed 
to  liis  rescue,  and  dispatched  the  assailant. 

All  the  other  prisoners  followed  their  cacique's  example. 
Catching  at  the  Spaniards'  arms,  or  the  "pounder  where- 
with they  pounded  the  macs,"  each  "set  u])on  his  master 
therewith,  or  on  the  lirst  that  fell  into  his  hands.  Th(>v 
made  use  of  the  lances  or  swords  they  met  with,  as  skil- 
fully as  if  they  had  been  bred  to  it  from  their  childhood:  so 


\y  of  llie 

It'll ves  of 
«  Siianisli 
iiUiH,  that 
liter,  and, 

ivd  tluMll- 
f  the  roll  I 
lu'lil  out, 
il  and  stu- 
vc])y  sotiH> 
parly,  who 

nducod  to 
IV  asiilt'  hi;^ 

roihito  thti 
"1,  \vliik'  iho 
1  altark  the 
.0  liaml. 
as  scateil  at 
erato  (.'tVort, 
;ranj,de  liiin. 
fell  up.'ii  the 
to  his  throat, 
ist  upon  the 
I."     Do  Soto 
!  of  thr  inns- 
dauts  rushed 


lUi's  example, 
under  ^vhere- 
on  his  nuist(!r 
lands.  'i'hi\v 
Avith,  as  skil- 
childhood;  so 


FLOllIUA  INDIANS. 


119 


that  one  of  them,  with  sword  in  hand,  made  liead  against 
fifteen  or  twenty  men  in  tlie  open  i)hiee,  until  lie  was  killed 
by  the  governor's  halbardiers."  Another  desperate  war- 
rior, with  only  a  lance,  kept  possession  of  the  room  wlien^ 
the  Indian  coi-n  was  stored,  and  could  no',  he  dislodgecl. 
lie  was  shot  througli  an  aperture  in  tlie  rocu  The  Indians 
were  at  last  overpowered,  and  all  who  had  not  pei-ishcd 
in  the  struggle,  were  bound  to  stakes  and  put  to  dealli. 
Tlu'ir  executioners  were  the  Indians  of  Puracoxi,  who  shot 

• 

them  with  arrows. 

Napetaca,  the  scene  of  this  event,  was  left  by  the  Span- 
iards in  the  latter  part  of  September,  Forcing  their  way 
tlu'ough  the  vast  swam))S  and  over  the  dee})  and  miry 
streams  that  intercepted  their  path,  and  exposetl  to  the 
attacks  of  the  revengeful  proprietors  of  the  soil,  tlu-y  came 
to  the  tt)wn  of  U/aehil,  somewhere  near  the  present  Oscilhi 
river,  midway  between  the  Suwanne  and  Ajtjialaehicola. 
Kncundjcred  with  horses,  baggage,  and  armor  as  they  were, 
their  })rogress  is  surjirising.  Uzachil  was  deserted  by  the 
Indians,  and  the  troops  revelled  in  store  of  pi'ovision  left 
by  the  unfortunate  inhabitants. 

Marauding  parties  of  the  Spaniards  succeeded  in  seizing 
many  prisoners,  both  men  and  women,  who  were  chained 
by  the  neck,  and  loaded  witli  baggage,  when  the  army 
recommenced  their  march.  The  jioor  creatures  resorted 
to  every  method  to  effect  their  esea])e;  some  tiling  their 
chains  in  two  with  flints,  and  others  running  away,  when 
an  ojiportunity  ofl'ered,  with  the  badge  of  shu'ci'y  still 
attached  to  their  nerks.  Those  who  failed  in  the  attempt 
were  cruelly  punished. 

The  natives  of  this  north-western  portion  of  Florida 
evinced  no  little  skill  and  good  management  in  the  con- 
struction of  their  dwellings  and  in  their  method  of  agricul- 
ture. 1'he  houses  were  pronounced  "almost  like  the  farm- 
houses of  Spai  n, "  and  some  of  the  to  w  ns  were  (piite  pojmlo  us. 


>> 


wm 


I 


bi.-i 


H 


i«i 


•I- 

•I 

•k. 


120 


INIiIAX   IIAi.M;S  OV  AMKIUOA. 


Making  a  liiilt  at  Aiiliayca,  llio  capital  town  of  the  dis- 
trict of  I'alaohe,  Do  Soto  sent  u  Jjarty  to  viow  tiio  scii-coivst. 
''^iio  men  ooniniisioiicfl  I'or  this  scrvico  discovtM'ed  tokens 
of  tlio  ill-fated  expedition  of  Narvae/,  at  Ante,  wIhm'o  the 
live  boats  were  built.  These  were  a  manger  hewn  I'roni 
the  trunk  of  a  tree,  and  the  l)ones  of  the  horses  who  had 
been  killed  to  sujtply  th(^  means  of  outtit. 

Do  Soto,  aljout  tlio  last  of  Novend)er,  sent  a  detai'h- 
ment  back  to  the  bay  of  Kspiritu  Santo,  with  directions 
for  two  caravels  to  repair  to  C'ul)a,  and  tiie  other  vt'sst-ls, 
which  had  not  already  l)een  ordtnvd  home,  to  come  round 
by  sea  and  join  him  at  i'ahiciie.  'I'wcntv  Imhan  women 
were  sent  as  a  })resont  to  tlie  geiiei-al's  will-,  honna  Isabdhi. 

In  one  of  the  scouting  e\i)editions,  during  the  .stay  at 
I'alache,  a  remarkable  instance  of  .sell-devotion  was  seen 
in  two  Indians,  wiioiu  the  troops  came  upon  as  thev  were 
gathering  beans,  with  a  wotnan,  the  wile  of  out^  of  them, 
in  tlieir  com])any.  '''I'lioiigh  ihiy  might  have  saveil 
themselves,  vet  th(>v  eliose  rather  to  die  than  to  abandon 


tl 


le  woman. 


'J'hev  wounded  tl 


ree  hoi'sc: 


wiiereot  one 


died,'"  before  the  S[ 


la.iKfd 


succeeded  in  destroving  then 


Early  in  March,  lolo,  the  Spanish  forces  were  [mt  in 


ai'  to  the  north-(\ist. 


A 


voum 


hal 


mil, 


motion  for  an  e.\pe(liiioii  to  ^'||pilha,  I 
(iold  was  still  the  obji'ct  of  seaiH'h. 
who  was  maih!  prisoner  at  Napetaea,  alleg(>il  thai  he  had 
come  from  that  country,  and  that  it  w;is  of  great  extent 
and  richness,  lie  said  that  it  was  subject  to  a  female 
cacique,  and  that  the  neighboring  triln's  paid  her  tribute 
in  gold,  "whereupon  he  described  the  manner  how  that 
gold  was  dug,  how  it  was  melted  and  refined,  as  if  he  had 
seen  it  >.one  a  hundred  times,  or  as  if  th(  Devil  had  taught 
him;  inasmuch  that  all  who  understood  the  manner  of 
working  in  the  mines,  averred  that  it  was  inijiossibh;  for  him 
to  speak  .so  exactly  of  it,  without  having  .seen  the  same." 
It  would  l)e  foreign  bj  our  [)rescnt  subject  to  follow  De 


f  tho  (lis- 

SCU-COilSt. 

•d  tokens 
vliiM'c  the 

•Wll    IViMIl 

who  hull 


!l    I 


lot; 


uii- 


liivrtioiis 
er  vessels,    j 
>mc  roiitiil    i 

Ul   WlilllCll      ' 

alsalH'U;!.    j 
ho  stiiv  at 
1  was  si'rn 
they  wcrt^ 
c  of  thciii.    I 
avc   savcil    i 

0  tibaiidou 
■hereof  one 
vinu  tht'iii. 
vvv  put  iu 
noi'tli-east. 
iiu;  Indian, 
hai-  lie  had 
I'cat  extent 
to   a   irinale 

her  ti'ihnte 
M*  how  that 
as  if  lu^  had 
had  tau<j;ht 
:  manner  ol 
sible  for  him 

1  tlu>  same." 
Lo  follow  l)e 


'foVl 


>3f»'' 


If 


FLOKIDA  INDIANS. 


121 


m 


,^,\ 


.(i- 


Soto  in  this  tour;  niul,  intlecd,  tlio  position  of  many  of 
till)  loeulitios  which  urc  (U-scriluMl  l)y  his  liistoriiuis,  and 
tlici  (hstiiiicos  iind  directions  of  his  \v<'aris(;inc  and  perilous 
journeyiiigs,  must,  ut  tlie  i)reseiit  (hiy,  bo  matters  of  con- 
j(M!ture.  It  may  not,  however,  bo  amiss  to  mention  brielly 
tlie  aeconnts  preserved  of  the  appearance  of  .some  of  the 
tribes  througli  wlioso  dominions  \\c  passed  before  liis 
return  to  tlic  nortli-western  districts  of  mo(h'rn  Florida. 

As  ho  moved  nortliward,  a  marked  elianj.'e  was  per- 
ceived in  the  buildings.  Instead  of  the  grass-covered 
huts  which  served  well  enough  in  the  genial  climate  of  the 
peninsula,  the  people  of  Toalli  had  '4br  th.eir  roof  little 
canes  placed  together  like  Tile;  they  were  very  neat. 
Some  had  the  walls  made  of  poles,  so  artilicially  inter- 
woven, that  they  seemed  to  be  built  of  Stone  and  lime." 
They  could  be  thoroughly  warmed  in  the  winter,  which 
was  there  jJi'e'tty  severe.  The  dwellings  of  the  caci(pies 
were  roomy  and  commodious,  and  were  rendered  conspi- 
cuous by  a  balcony  over  the  entrance.  Great  skill  was 
shown  by  these  people  in  the  manufacture  of  cloth  from 
grass  or  fibrous  bark,  and  the  deer  skins,  of  which  they 
made  leggins  and  other  articles,  -were  admirably  well 
dressed  and  dvcd. 

The  most  remarkable  of  the  countries  visited,  on  this 
Northern  exploration,  was  Cutifachi([ui,  su])posed  to  have 
been  situated  far  up  the  Chatahoochee,  Avliii'h  was  gov- 
erned by  a  female.  The  Spaniards  were  astonished  at  the 
dignity  and  refmement  of  the  queen.  Iler  reception  of 
Do  SuLo  reminds  one  of  Cleopatra's  first  meeting  with 
Anthony,  as  described  by  the  great  dramatist.  She  was 
brought  down  to  the  water  iu  a  palanquin,  and  there  seated 
in  the  stern  of  a  canoe,  upon  cushions  and  carpets,  with 
a  pavilion  overhead.  She  brought  presents  of  mantles 
and  skins  to  the  general,  and  hung  a  neck-lace  of  large 
pearls  about  his  neck. 


'M 


m 


122 


INDIAN   EACES   OF   AMERICA. 


The  Iiulians  of  the  country  were  represented  as  "tawny, 
well-shajied,  and  more  polite  tlian  any  before  seen  in  Flor- 
ida." Their  numbers  had  been  greatly  reduced,  two  years 
previous,  by  a  pestilence,  and  many  deserted  dwellings 
Avere  to  be  seen  around  the  town.  "J'he  accounts  given  of 
the  quantity  of  })earls  obtained  here,  by  searching  the 
places  of  sepulture,  are  incredible. 

Departing  from  Cutifachiqui,  De  Soto  had  the  ingrati- 
tude to  carry  the  queen  along  Avith  him,  compelling  her 
even  to  go  on  ft)ot.  "In  the  mean  time,  that  she  might 
deserve  a  little  consideration  to  be  liad  for  her  still,"  she 
induced  the  Indians  by  -whose  houses  the  cavalcade 
passed,  to  join  the  party,  and  lend  their  aid  in  carrying 
the  baggage.    She  succeeded,  finally,  in  making  her  escape. 

AVc  must  now  dismiss  De  Soto  and  his  band  upon  their 
long  journey  through  the  Avestern  Avilderness.  lie  died 
upon  the  l?ed  Eiver,  and  those  of  his  companions  Avho 
escai)ed  death  from  exposure,  disease,  or  savage  weapons, 
years  after  the  events  above  described,  made  their  Avay 
down  the  Mississippi  to  the  gulf,  and  thence  reached  the 
Spanish  provinces  of  Mexico. 


CHAPTER  III. 

FROM  THE  CONQUEST  BY  DE  SOTO  TO  THE  YEAR  1818— MISSIONARY 

OPERATIONS  BY  THE    SPANIARDS MOOke's    INVASION  OF 

FLORIDA BOAVLES — AVARS  OF   1812 DEFEAT  OF 

THE    SEMINOLES    BY    GENERAL    MCKSON. 


We  can  but  briefly  touch  upon  the  incidents  of  Flor- 
ida history  for  nearly  two  centuries  after  De  Soto's  inva- 
sion. The  French  Huguenot  refugees,  avIio  settled  upon 
St.  John's  river  in  1562,  found  the  natives  placable  and 


"t;iwny, 
in  Flor- 

wt)  years 

Iwellings 
uiven  of 

liing  tlie 

c  iiigvati- 
lling  licr 

ihc  might 

still,"  dxo 

cavuleude 

canying 

ler  escape. 

apou  their 
lie  died 

iiions  who 

c  wea}ions, 
their  way 

•cached  the 


-MISSIONARY 
SIGN  OF 
T  OF 

I 

nts  of  Flor-  I 

Soto's  inva-  \ 

lettlcd  upon  < 
)]acable  and 


FLORIDA  INDIANS. 


123 


generous.  Altliough  their  kindness  was  hut  ill  recipro- 
cated by  the  colony,  no  very  serious  difficulties  occurred 
between  the  two  races.  The  power  and  self-confidence 
of  the  Indians  had  been  broken,  and  their  numbers  greatly 
reduced  by  the  desolating  ravages  committed  by  the 
Spaniards. 

In  the  brutal  and  murderous  wars  between  the  French 
and  Spanish  colonies,  which  succeeded  the  new  attempts 
at  settlement ;  the  Indians,  although  they  took  no  conspi- 
cuous part,  were  occasionally  involved  in  hostilities.  The 
most  important  era  in  the  native  history  of  this  period,  is 
that  of  the  establishment  of  a  regular  missionary  system 
of  instruction. 

The  central  point  of  these  operations  was  the  convent 
of  St.  Helena,  situated  at  St.  Augustine.  Don  Pedro  Men- 
endez  de  vVvilla,  the  Spanish  governor  who  founded  this 
town,  and  who  had  been  commissioned  by  the  king  of 
Spain  to  spread  the  Catholic  religion  among  the  Indians, 
was  indefotigable  in  carrying  out  his  sovereign's  inten- 
tions. The  success  met  with  by  tlic  ecclesiastics  sent  forth 
among  the  various  tribes,  is  astonishing.  In  the  Avilder- 
ness  of  central  Florida  may  still  be  seen  the  ruins  of 
buildings  erected  by  their  means  for  religious  exercises. 
Their  efforts  were  not  confined  to  the  vicinity  of  the  col- 
onies: emissaries  penetrated  the  western  forests,  even  to 
the  Mississippi;  and  amid  the  rough  mountain  districts  of 
the  north,  they  were  to  be  found  living  with  the  In- 
dians, and  assiduously  instructing  them,  not  only  in  their 
religious  creed,  but  in  language  and  useful  arts. 

The  Spanish  influence  might  perhaps  have  been  main- 
tained over  the  Indians  during  the  existence  of  the  colony, 
but  for  the  jealous  suspicions  of  Cabraua,  who  was  made 
governor  in  1680.  He  put  to  doath  the  principal  chief  of 
the  Yem-asees,  or  inaabitants  of  East  Florida,  upon  an 
accusation  of  having  given  aid  and  comfort  to  the  English 


V  JJ^li 


m 


'^t^,"*! 


m 


'1?  I  ''■ 

^  IT  I   J 


Slji''i 


124 


INDIAN  KAv"KS   OF  A^IEJUCA. 


settlers  on  the  St.  John's,  then  called  May  river.  The  con- 
sequence of  this  act  was  a  lon^^  and  troublesome  war. 

The  unibrtauate  Indians  were  for  many  years  after  this 
event  made  the  tools  of  the  hostile  European  colonies: 
lirst  in  the  Vrench  and  Spanish  wars,  and  afterwards,  in 
1702  and  1704,  when  governor  Moore,  of  Soutli  Carolina, 
invaded  Florida. 

In  the  north-western  districts  of  the  peninsula  dwelt  the 
Appalachccs;  the  rest  of  the  country  was  inhabited  by 
the  Vemasecs.  These  two  nations  had  formerly'  been  upon 
terms  of  the  bitterest  emnity,  but  had  been  reconciled  by 
the  mediation  of  the  Spaniards.  ^Moorc,  ibllowcd  by  a  con- 
sideralile  body  of  English,  and  a  large  force  of  Creek 
Indians,  ravaged  nearly  the  whole  countr\-,  beginning  at 
Appalachee,  and  proceeding  south-easterly  to  the  Atlantic 
sea-board.  He  carried  away  many  Indians  of  the  con- 
quered tribes  to  the  English  plantations  as  slaves. 

After  a  long  period  of  hopeless  and  i)rofitless  warfare, 
in  which  they  had  nothing  to  gain  by  success,  and  by 
meanj-  of  which  they  were  disabled  from  agi'iculture  and 
de])rived  of  a  settled  abode,  the  scattered  renmants  of  the 
Inilian  tribes  gradually  took  up  their  quarters  in  the  heart 
of  the  country,  and  further  towards  the  South,  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  eightcentli  century  they  acquired  the 
name  of  Seminoles,  said  to  signify  "v,-anderers." 

In  the  year  1792,  an  unprincipled  adventurer  from  Eng- 
land, named  Bowles,  made  strenuous  attempts  to  excite 
the  hostility  of  the  Indians  against  the  Spanish  settlers. 
Failing  in  a  direct  attempt  to  plunder  an  Indian  trading- 
house  on  the  St.  John's,  and  linding  himself  abandoned  by 
his  associates,  he  betook  himself  to  the  Creeks,  married  a 
woman  of  that  tribe,  and  jjcisuaded  the  Indians  that  tlie 
store  of  goods  which  he  had  attacked  belonged  rightfully 
to  them,  lie  met  with  considerable  success  in  deceiving 
the  simple-minded  luitives,  and,  assisted  by  several  chiels 


mg 


Soin 

of  s] 

III 

mort 


lie  con- 
tir. 

fter  this 
olonies: 
lU'ds,  ill    j 
luroliiui,    I 

1 
welt  the    ! 

)ited  by 

:ou  upon 

cilcd  by 

.)y  a  coii- 

if  Ci'cek 

lining  tit 

Alliuitic 

the  con-    j 

,  wavfure, 
,  and  by 
tare  and 
its  of  tlic 
the  heart 
,  In  the 
uired  the 

trom  Eng- 
to  excite 
Li  settlers, 
trading- 
idoned  by 
married  a 
s  that  tlie 
rightfully 
deceiving 
eral  chicfd 


FLOiaOA  INDIANS. 


125 


of  the  Creek  nation,  he  got  possession  of  the  fortress  of 
St.  Marks.  Delivering  himself  up  to  riot  and  drunken- 
ness, with  bis  follo\"ers,  it  proved  no  diflicult  task  for  the 
Spanish  troops  to  retake  the  fort.  Bowles  was  allowcul  to 
escape,  but  was  afterwards  delivered  np  by  his  liKliau 
allies,  and  taken  to  Cuba  a  prisoner.  The  Seminolcs  were 
partially  involved  in  the  wars  of  1812  and  the  two  succeed- 
ing years,  when  the  Americans  invaded  Florida.  Their 
chief  leaders  were  King  Payne  and  his  brother,  the  noted 
IJoleck  or  Bow-legs.  Having  done  no  little  damage  by 
])urning  buildings  and  plundering  the  plantations  in  tlu-ir 
vicinity,  they  purposed  to  inarch  northward,  but  were  en- 
gage-^ .lud  routed  nearer  home,  by  General  ^cvvnian,  with 
a  body  of  troops  from  (Jeorgia.  'J'his  force  having  crossi'd 
the  St.  John'.s,  marched  into  Alachua,  and  encountered 
Payne  within  a  few  miles  of  his  head-quarters.  The  Indians 
fought  bravely,  but  could  not  resist  the  sii})erior  skill 
of  the  whites.  Payne  was  killed,  and  his  men  were  driven 
oil'  in  the  first  engagement,  but  they  rallied,  and  retnrneil 
to  the  attack  with  redoubled  energy.  They  pos.^essed  them- 
selves of  the  body  of  their  chief;  and  afterwards  surround- 
ing the  American  forces,  ke|)t  them  in  a  state  of  siege  for  a 
nuiid)er  of  days,  imperfectly  protected  by  a  structure  of  logs. 

After  this  ]H>riod,  and  ])revious  to  the  (tession  of  the  Flor- 
idas  to  the  L  iiited  Stat(\s,  the  all'airs  of  the  Seminolcs  and 
their  American  neighbors  were  unsettled,  and  some  blood\' 
scenes  were  enacted.  .Fugitive  slaves  from  the  adjoining 
states  found  a  secure  asylum  among  the  immense  wilds  of 
the  marshy  and  uiunhabited  terrhory  of  the  Floridas,  aud 
conilieting  claims  of  Indians  and  whites  respecting  negroes 
long  after  formed  a  fertile  source  of  quarrel  and  conij)laint. 
Some  of  the  Seminoles  became  possessed  of  large  numbers 
of  slaves,  holding  them  by  undisputed  title. 

In  the  month  of  ^[arch,  I8ly,  General  Jackson,  with 
more  than  three  thousand  men,  over  one  half  of  whom  were 


1iP 

'.''•.''■■•I,„:..JH! 


1 

ii 
1 

'  i-  *:  '; 
*     '«■'•■  1 

*■■;, 

'\f\ 

\ 

'  *■'■ 
■■f. , 

v^4 

■.I'l'fl 


&m 


k  ,  it  ,'.  t.  .' 


■J 

■;* 

-■'  ■ 


(,► 


>i 


li 


126 


INDIAN"  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


Creek  Av.arriors,  marched  into  West  Florida  to  piinish  and 
check  the  ravages  of  the  Seminolcs,  With  little  opposition 
from  the  inhabitants,  the  towns  surrounding  the  lake  of 
Miccosukic  were  dostroved,  and  much  booty,  in  corn  and 
cattle,  was  t^ecurod.  The  Indian  villages  upon  the  Oscilla 
and  St.  Mark's  -ivcr-!,  known  as  the  Fowel  towns,  met  with 
a  similar  fate.  St.  Marks  M^as  soon  after  occupied  by  the 
invaders,  and,  in  tlie  ■  :suing  month,  the  great  body  of  the 
Seminolcs,  aided  by  large  numbers  of  negroes,  was  defeated 
on  the  bordt  rs  of  the  Suwanee,  and  several  hundred  were 
taken  prisoners.     The  rest  lied  into  East  Florida. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

COMMENCKMI'NT    OF    THE    LATK    FLORIDA   WAlt — TUKATY    OF    MOUL- 

TKIE    CliKKK — TUFATV    OF    I'AINK's    LANDING OSiKOLA DK- 

STRI'CTION    OF    DADE's    COMMAND HATTlE    OF    THE 

OUITHLACOOCIIIE CONFEKENCE   Wmi   INDIAN 

CHIEFS,  BY  (iENEUAL  C.AINES. 

"*        *         *        Hark,  tliiit  <nii('k,  fierce  cry, 
That  rends  the  utter  "ileiiee;  "lis  tlie  wlidop 
Of  battle,  and  a  throng  of  savage  men, 
With  naked  iirins,  and  faces  stjiined  like  blood, 
■*  Fill  the  green  wilderness.         *        *         * 

*         *         *         *■  Soon  the  eonciiierors 

And  conquered  vanish,  and  the  dead  remain, 
Gashed  horribly  with  tomahawks." — Biiyant. 

Aftkk  the  whole  country  had  passed  into  the  hands 
of  the  American  government,  it  was  thought  necessary  to 
take  steps  to  secure  tJie  frontiers  of  the  white  si'ttlcinents 
from  the  incursions  of  the  Indians,  and  to  conline  the  lat- 
ter to  certain  si)eeiJied  districts.  In  the  year  LS28,  there- 
lore,  on  the  Ibth  of  September,  a  treaty  was  concluded 


fr 


lios 

p!aii| 

wroj 

cutti 

othc 

bcrlj 

CX})il 

and 
T(| 


the  liiuuls 
[H'Ci^siiry  to 
;ettl(>inents 
inc  tlie  lat- 
823,  tlR-re- 
concluded 


FLORIDA    INDIANS. 


127 


at  the  camp  on  ^roultric  Creek,  between  coTamis.sioner3 
from  the  United  States  and  a  number  of  Seminole  ehiefs, 
■wliereby  it  Avas  stipulated:  that  all  territory  not  reserved 
by  the  articles  shonld  pass  to  the  Anierican  government ; 
tliat  the  Indians  should  confine  themselves  to  a  large  dis- 
trict described  by  courses  and  bounds  in  the  heart  of  the 
peninsula;  that  fugitive  slaves  should  be  delivered  up, 
the  reasonable  expenses  of  securing  thein  being  provided 
for;  and  that  certain  sums  should  be  paid  by  the  gov- 
ernment to  compensate  for  the  expenses  and  losses  of  re- 
moval, and  to  establish  the  Indians  comfortably  in  their 
nc'.v  quarters.  Various  minor  particulars  were  embodied  in 
the  treaty,  which  was  signed  with  mark  and  seal,  on  the 
part  of  the  Seminoles,  by  the  principal  chii.'C  ^lieanopy; 
by  ^I'uslvi-  Ibijo,  iMnathlochoe,  Mconchatimico,  Tokose- 
mathla  (k-ncnvn  as  Hicks).  Charley  Anuithia,  TushMingge, 
John  ]51uat,  Mulatto  King,  Philiii,  Nea  Matlda,  and  twenty- 
one  others,  pixsse.ssed  of  or  elaiming  the  autuority  of  cliit'fs. 

An  exception  was  made,  by  an  additi(pnal  article,  in 
fivor  of  six  (if  the  signers;  who  were  alhjwed,  in  consid- 
eration of  former  scrvict>s,  to  remain  ujjon  the  lands  then 
occupied  l)y  thoni.  »* 

Micauojiy  is  de.-^cribed  by  Williams  as  a  "large  fat  man, 
ratlier  obtuse  in  intellect,  but  kimi  to  his  people  and  slaves." 

The  Indians  were  removed  in  accordance  with  the 
provisions  of  tlie  agreement,  and,  until  18o5,  no  sc.'ious 
hoslilities  took  place  between  them  and  the  whites.  Com- 
planits  wcM-e,  indeed,  made  on  both  sides  of  uiu'edrcssed 
wrongs  and  (outrages.  I'he  Alacliuan  settlers  lost  their 
cattle,  and  attribiiti'd  the  thefts  to  the  Indians:  on  the 
other  liand,  the  Indians  complained,  with  Justice,  of  imm- 
berless  impositions  and  deceptions  to  whieli  tliey  were 
exposed  in  their  intercourse  with  unprincipled  traders 
and  speculators. 

To  quiet  all  disturbance  it  was  at  bust  decn\cd  expedient 


il/Wf'li.,. 


■  ^^ 

'is      f  A 


,M  '^ 


'  ''  VI 


Sjr'  If? 

«       *       Ml 

'    1 1'  >l 


M.i 


128 


INDIAN'  HACKS  OF  AMKHICA. 


.  ii 

:  ;• 


by  the  Ann^rican  iroveniniciit,  to  ofllvt  an  entire  removal 
of  the  Seiniiioles  to  the  west  of  tlie  Mississipjti.  Aceord- 
inglv,  a  V'.ieetiiig  was  appoiiiteil  by  ^rieano]n-  ami  the  ji-ov- 
crniueiit  emissaries,  to  be  held  at  Payne's  Landing,  on  the 
Oeklawaha  river,  on  the  ciglitli  of  May,  1832.  Fifteen 
cliiefs  were  present,  and,  after  nineh  argument,  signed  an 
agreement,  in  belialf  of  tliemselves  and  tln'ir  jieople,  to 
accede  to  the  [iroposals  of  goverinnent;  provided  tiie  new 
lands  assigned  them  slionld  jirove  acceptable  to  a  dejmta- 
tion  from  tlieir  nnnilnM'wlio  sliould  llrst  go  to  make  exam- 
ination. The  bnited  States  were  to  i)ay  tlie  trilte  iifteen 
thonsaiid  lonr  liuiKh'cd  doilars,  ai'd  llie  removal  was  to 
take  place  within  three  years.  The  authority  of  the  sign- 
ers of  this  treaty  to  bind  the  whole  of  the  Seminole  tritn's 
has  been  frequently,  and  with  no  little  jvason,  called  in 
question.  Certain  it  is,  that  to  a  majoi'ity  of  the  nation 
the  pidposition  was  highly  distasteful. 

Sevei'al  cliiels,  with  Micanopy's  ju'ini;'  eounselloi- Abra- 
ham, an  astute  negro,  undertook  the  survey  of  the  W(\-<1- 
ern  reserve,  and  sig-  ^d  a  wriLing  expressive  of  tlieir  satis- 
faction with  its  ap[.,  iirauce.  It  was  claimed  by  the  In- 
dians, and  their  pai'tisans,  that  some  deception  was  used 
both  ill  the  wording  of  this  certificate,  and  generally  as 
to  the  conclusiveness  of  the  arrangements  entered  int(.  at 
Payne's  Landing. 

As  the  end  of  the  term  prescribed,  w  ithin  which  they 
must  leave  their  homes,  drew  near,  ojiposition  to  reino\al, 
anil  detenninatioii  to  resist  it,  eontiniieil  to  gain  foree 
among  the  Indians.  They  complained  of  tlu'  ae('()nnts 
brought  them  of  the  belligerent  character  of  the  sa\ages 
who  would  be  their  near  neighbors,  and  strenuously  oh- 
jeeteil  to  a  jilan,  set  on  foe'  at  AVashington,  for  uniting 
their  1ril>(>  with  that  of  their  old  c'.iemii's  the  Creeks. 

Serious  disturbances  coinrn..\'!ccd  in  18o5.  Some  months 
previously,  whites  had  be(  ii,  upon  one  or  two  occasions, 


m 


w 


iioval 

?  .L'OV- 
)!!    till' 

ii'ti'i-n 
loil  :in 
pic,  to 
If  new 

cplltll- 

I'xaiu- 

llftl'LMl 

was  to 
le  sijin- 
c  tribcri 
]\vi\  in 
nation 


>i-A1>ra-  j 

1h>  w.-st-  I 

rir  siilis-  ^ 

■  the  In-  I 

vas  11  set  I  i 

(■rally  as  i 

il  int(.  at  1 

iir1i  tli(\v 
removal, 
:ain  f'oivc 
ai'coiintri 
I'  sava.uvs 

lOUslv   t'l)- 

ir  iinitiii;-r 

erks. 

nc  months 

occasions, 


vi;y 


ti\  ft 


,Sv'5 


.i    > 


,  r; 


Th 


niatell 

that 

acutci 

He  ^\-l 

Frenc 

bciiife, 

lishni 

chief. 

vious 


^f.^-'-' 


VS(:EUL.>i. 


FLORIDA  INDIANS. 


129 


fired  upon  by  the  Indians,  and  mutual  wrongs,  insults, 
and  injuries,  had  excited  general  ill-feeling  between  the 
two  nations.  In  the  month  of  October,  of  this  year,  sev- 
eral Indians  were  detected  in  killing  a  cow  near  Kenapaha 
jiond,  not  far  fi'om  Miccosukie.  They  were  set  upon  by 
seven  whites,  who  seized  their  arms,  and  commenced 
beating  them  with  whips.  An  affray  succeeded,  in  which 
several  were  wounded  on  both  sides,  and  two  of  the  In- 
dians were  killed  outright.  This  may  be  considered  to 
be  tho  commencement  of  the  war :  it  was  the  first  blood 
shed,  but  was  soon  followed  by  other  outrages.  The  mail 
rider,  upon  his  route  from  Fort  Brooke,  on  Tampa  Bay, 
to  Fort  King,  fell  a  victim  to  Indian  revenge;  his  body 
was  found  hacked  and  mutilated. 

It  now  appeared  that  the  Scminoles,  determined  to  main- 
tain their  ground,  had  been,  for  some  time,  purchasing 
:ind  hoarding  great  stores  of  arms  and  ammunition.  Their 
mvmbers  were  considerable ;  they  had  among  them  lead- 
e'.'s  known  to  be  bold,  determined,  and  sagacious;  they 
considered  themselves  wronged  and  ojipressed;  and  all 
these  circumstances,  combined  with  their  intimate  knowl- 
edge of  the  impassable  wilderness  to  which  the}''  could 
at  any  moment  retire,  convinced  the  discerning  that  a 
war  with  them  must  be  fraught  with  danger  and  difficulty, 
and  might  be  indefinitely  protracted. 

The  young  chief,  Osceola,  whose  name  is  more  inti- 
mately associated  than  any  other  with  the  bloody  events 
that  succeeded,  now  began  to  attract  attention  for  his 
acuteness,  energy,  and  determined  hostility  to  the  whites. 
He  was  a  qaadrooTi  of  the  Red  Stick  (anglicized  from  the 
French  "Baton  llouge")  tribe,  of  Miccosukie;  his  mother 
being  a  half-breed,  and  his  father  supposed  to  be  an  l^hig- 
lishman  named  Powel — a  name  ordinprily  borne  by  the 
chief  Osceola  had  opposed  the  plan  of  removal  at  pre- 
vious councils,  with  great  vigor,  and  on  one  occasion 
9 


{<('■(    '■ill li ■' » ' >••  tra 


■  ■'  ■  •        ,  ■  ■;    'I';. 
'  ■'    ■  ,■    'Vj!*;'''   ■ 


t  ■ . 


'V 


v:-^^vy 


m 


''im 


■  '      W" 


130 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMElilCA. 


demeaned  liiinsclf  with  such  violence  that  he  was  seized 
by  General  '^riionipson,  the  government  agent,  and  kept  for 
a  day  or  two  conlined  in  letters.  Dissend)ling  his  rage, 
he,  for  a  time,  managed  to  disai'iu  suspicion;  bringing  in 
a  great  number  of  his  followers,  and  solemnly  rati fy i\ig 
the  treaty. 

His  true  purposes  and  feelings  were  first  known  by  the 
]iart  he  took  in  the  murder  of  John  llieks  and  Charley 
Ainathla,  two  ehiefs  who  had  been  prominent  in  forward- 
ing the  treaty  of  removal.  lie  obtained  great  ascendancy 
for  himself  and  followers  among  the  whole  nation  of  tlie 
SMiiiiiolcs;  and  mainly  through  his  influence,  instead  of 
cnllecting  their  cattle  and  stock  for  appraisal,  at  the  time 
when  they  were  notified  that  they  must  leave  the  country, 
the  warriors  of  the  tribe  secreted  their  women  and  chil- 
dren in  swamps  remote  from  white  settlements,  and  scoured 
the  country  in  hostile  attitude. 

Troops  were  ordered  to  Florida  from  various  quar- 
ters. Major  Dade,  arriving  at  Tampa  Bay,  with  a  com- 
pany of  United  States'  infantry,  being  reinforced,  with  two 
other  companies,  started,  on  the  24th  of  Decend)er,  to 
the  relief  of  General  Clinch,  at  Fort  King.  His  force 
consisted  of  over  one  hundred  I'cgular  troops,  sup])lii'd 
with  ten  days'  provision:  they  took  with  them  a  small 
ficld-picce.  Sonic  delay  occurred  u2)on  the  march,  owing 
to  the  difliculty  of  transporting  the  cannon,  and  on  tiie 
28th  they  had  advanced  no  farther  than  a  few  miles  to 
the  northward  of  the  forks  of  the  Ouithlacooehee.  Here 
they  were  attacked  by  an  uidcnown  multitude  of  Iiulians, 
under  the  command  of  Micanopy,  and  his  brother-in-law, 
the  celebrated  Jumper,  who  had  avoided  signing  the 
treaty  of  Moultrie  Creek.  The  savages  were  crouching 
among  the  long  wire-grass,  and  protected  by  the  trunks 
of  the  pine-trees,  when  they  commenced  their  fire.  The 
effect  was  deadly;   Major  Dade  and  a  great  number  of 


J 


was  l| 

compd 
rest  el 

In 
destn 
on  thJ 
On  tlf 
been 
Fort 
quarte 


'g 


ling  the 
roucliing 
e  trunks 
re.  The 
Lmuer  of 


:zzr--J 


FLOHIDA  INDIANS. 


131 


his  men  were  killed  at  the  first  discharge.  The  soldiers 
continued  to  fight  bravely,  .sheltering  themselves  as  well 
as  possible  behind  tree.s;  and,  as  the  Indians  rose  up, 
poured  in  their  fire  so  briskly  as  to  drive  the  enemy  from 
the  field.  J^Jvery  histant  was  now  occu])ied  in  forming  a 
slight  protection  by  cutting  and  piling  up  the  truid\S  of 
pines.  The  Indians,  liowever,  soon  returned  in  great 
force,  and,  surrounding  the  little  entrenchment,  destroyed 
nearly  every  man  of  the  company.  After  they  had  ttiken 
]H)ssession  of  the  arms  which  lay  scattered  around,  the 
Indians  retired,  but  a  body  of  mounted  negroes  are  said 
to  have  come  up,  and  finished  the  murderous  work  by 
knocking  out  the  brains  of  the  wounded.  Only  four  men 
escaped,  being  jtassed  over  by  the  negroes  and  Indians,  as 
they  lay  wounded  and  motionless  among  the  dead  bodies. 
One  of  these  was  killed  on  the  following  da}',  while  en- 
deavoring to  make  his  way  back  to  the  fort:  the  other 
three,  cautiously  threading  their  path  through  the  wilder- 
ness, arrived  safe  at  Tampa  Bay. 

On  the  same  day  with  the  destruction  of  Dade's  com- 
mand, Osceola  revenged  himself  upon  his  hated  foe.  Gen- 
eral Wiley  Thompson,  by  whom  he  had  been  imprisoned, 
as  before  mentioned.  A  company  of  nine,  among  them 
General  Thompson,  were  dining  at  the  house  of  a  ^^r. 
I?ogers,  within  fifty  rods  of  Fort  King,  when  the  liouse 
was  beset  by  Indians,  and  a  volley  poured  in  upon  the 
company.  Thompson  and  four  others  were  killed;  the 
rest  escaped  to  tlie  fort. 

In  the  course  of  the  month,  various  plantations  -yerc 
dostro3'ed  in  di  fie  rent  parts  of  the  country  bordering 
on  the  Indian  reserve,  and  some  skirmishing  took  place. 
On  the  last  day  of  December,  General  Clinch,  who  had 
been  stationed  at  Fort  Grane,  thirty  miles  north-west  of 
Fort  King,  being  on  his  march  towards  Osceola's  head- 
tpiarters  with  a  considerable  force  of  Florida  volunteers 


m^i 


■j::4'  ,, 


'  ■  ■  ■  .V  i-.     r.'V 
'^i  ,'  i"  viM'     '■•AM 

'  -::i>'!f/:  ■vvft;,*tnl 

:■•■■!;■!:<,'    ut^lVir 

■'/:..■'■  .'•  J-'W  H?i 

••'U^',^  V  ;'■,.  MJl.'lai 

.    .t,i«>   !     ,•  '.''lYvlltRI 


-^m 


^uim^M 


'■'•^■•,'.'•^1 


182 


INDIAN  KACEH  OK  AMERICA, 


and  about  two  hundred  regular  troops,  encountered  the 
enemy  upon  the  left  bank  of  the  Ouilhlaooocheo. 

The  ]ii(Haiifl,  nuinbcrin^'',  as  was  supp()S('(l,  about  six 
huiub'ed,  heachnl  ])y  Oscoola,  loll  ii[)()ii  tlio  iirst  division 
ol"  the  Ainorican  army  tliat  liad  eft'ected  the  passage  of  the 
river.  The  stream,  contrary  to  expectation,  was  in  no 
])laec  lonhible,  and  the  only  means  of  crossing  was  by  a 
single  canoe;  the  horses  passed  the  river  by  swiuuning. 
The  Tn<liau  connnander  evinced  great  bravery  and  coii- 
Bummate  marksmanship,  and  his  lucn,  firing  from  the  cover 
of  a  thick  growth  of  underwood,  and  from  beliind  trees, 
proved  dilHcidt  ojiponents  to  dislodge.  The  troops,  Avith 
one  or  two  slight  excjeptions,  stood  firm,  and  after  repeated 
charges,  (b'ove  the  Tncbans  from  the  field.  In  this  cngiige- 
ment  more  than  fifty  Americans  were  wounded,  and  sev- 
eral killed;  the  loss  of  the  enemy  was  reported  to  have 
been  over  one  nundred. 

Additional  troops  from  Louisiana,  and  forces  connected 
with  tlic  marine  service,  wcro  collected  at  Tampa  Bay;  and 
a  large  iletachment,  under  General  ( biines,  marched  to  V\)Vt 
King,  where  they  arrived  on  the  22d  of  February.  Pro- 
visions being  scarce,  and  the  state  of  the  roads  being  such 
that  su})plics  could  not  be  easily  procured,  Gaines  and  his 
force  commenced  their  return  to  Tampa,  by  the  route  for- 
merly taken  by  Clinch,  across  the  Ouithlacooehee.  On 
the  bank  of  the  river,  no  great  distance  from  the  scene 
of  the  last  battle,  the  army  was,  in  a  manner,  surn)unded 
and  besieged,  for  more  than  a  week,  by  Indians,  apparently 
to  the  number  of  from  one  to  two  thousand.  A  galling 
iirc  was  kept  up  at  (ivery  exposed  ])oint.  Word  was  sent 
to  Fort  Drane,  where  General  Clinch  was  stationed,  for 
relief  as  the  provisions  of  tlu;  army  were  nearly  expended. 

On  the  6th  of  March,  a  conference  was  held  between 
the  American  officers  and  three  of  the  princi})al  Indian 
chiefs — Osceola, 


lean 


nper. 


•amp 


I  the 

t  six 
nsion 
if  the 
in  no 
1  by  a 
ining. 
I  con- 
cover 
trocs, 
I,  witli 
peatod 
ngiigc- 
ul  scv- 
o  liave 

mccted 
ly;  and 
to  Fort 
.     Pro- 
ng sm'h 
and  liirt 
)ute  for- 
ce.    On 
10  scene 
rounded 
parcntly 
L  galling 
%vas  sent 
)ned,  for 
xpended. 
between 
i\  Indian 
amp  bad 


J 


FLOllIDA    INDIANS. 


133 


boon  liailed  during  the  prcviou.s  night,  and  a  U'isli  for  n 
j)arloy  expressed  on  the  part  of  the  savages,  ^rhe  chiefs 
pr«)ti.'!^sed  n  desire  for  peace;  said  they  were  weary  of  war, 
and  tliat,  if  they  could  be  allowed  to  retire  (piictly  beyond 
the  Onithlaooocheo,  and  could  remain  there  untnolosted, 
Ihoy  would  create  no  further  disturbance.  They  were 
iiifl)rmed  that  the  general  had  no  authority  to  conclude 
any  agreement  with  them,  and  that  their  only  course  was 
to  comi)ly  with  the  requisitions  of  the  government,  as 
forces,  which  it  would  be  iin])ossible  for  them  to  resist, 
Avere  on  their  way  to  enforce  submission.  The  Indian 
chiefs  wished  for  an  oj)portunity  to  take  counsel  with  their 
great  King  Micanopy,  before  returning  an  answer;  but 
General  Clinoh  appearing,  with  the  dcsi  ed  relief,  and 
engaging  with  a  dotachinent  of  the  Indians,  the  meeting 
was  bi'oken  up.  They  agreed,  however,  before  retiring, 
to  draw  off  their  warriors  to  the  south  bank  of  the  river, 
and  to  hold  them.selves  ready  to  attend  further  council 
when  notified. 

Nothing  further  was  effected,  and  the  combined  Amer- 
ican forces  returned  to  Fort  Drane. 


„"'■ 


■;!ii 

h     / 

..I 

•I  1    Id 


'     ,1 


.^ 


i'    .il 


•  ''a 


.  '{fmU't. 


•<,^^U" 


134 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


CHAPIER  Y. 

CONDITION  OF  EAST    FLORIDA fiF.NERAL    SCOTT's  CAMPAIGN GAR- 
RISON KESIKfiKD  ON  THE  OUITHLACOOCIIEE OCCURRENCES  DUR- 

INCr  THE  SUMMER  OF   1836 ARRIVAL  OF  CREEK  ALLIES 

COLONEL  lanes'  EXPEDITION  FROM  TAMPA BATTLES 

OF  THE  WAHOO    SWAMP — 'JENERAL  JESSUP  AP- 
POINi'ED  TO  THE    COMMAND  IN  FLORIDA. 


"*    *    And  tliereare  fciles  of  sad  fality 
In  the  dark  legends  of  thy  border  war." 

IIalleck. 

By  this  time  grievous  injury  had  been  clone  by  the 
Indians  to  tlie  settlements  ii;  Kast  Florida.  Philip  was 
the  principal  leader  in  the  devastations  that  took  place 
in  that  region.  New  Smyrna,  at  Mosquito  Inlet,  was 
destroyed,  and  the  plantations  upon  Ilalifixx  river,  to  the 
northward  of  the  town,  were  ravaged  and  the  settlers  driven 
off.  The  white  inhabitants  of  the  interior  were  every 
where  obliged  either  to  abandon  their  homes,  or  to  ereet 
defenees  and  to  establish  a  regular  watch. 

General  Scott  having  been  appointed  to  the  command 
of  the  army  in  Florida  during  the  spring  of  this  year 
(1830),  formed  a  })lan  to  penetrate  the  hoart  of  the  country, 
with  a  large  force,  from  three  dillerent  quarters  simulta- 
neously, and  thus  sun-ound  the  Indians,  and  cut  oil'  their 
retreat.  Generals  Clinch  and  Eustiee,  and  Colonel  Lindsey 
were  appointed  to  lead  the  three  divisions.  General  Clinch's 
party  was  attended  by  General  .'^cott  in  person.  The  army 
was  put  in  motion  in  the  latter  ])art  of  the  month  of  March. 

The  service  was  accomplished,  but  with  little  good 
effect.  The  Indians,  possessing  perfect  knowledge  of  the 
country,  instead  of  opjiosing  the  advancing  eolamns  in 
force,  hung  about  the  flanks  and  rear  of  the  army,  and  kept 


dow 


good 


FLORIDA    INDIANS. 


135 


up  a  vexatious  skirniisliing.  No  importaut  engagement 
took  place,  and  tlie  three  divisions,  after  Ij'ing  for  a  few 
days  at  Tampa,  were  again  put  in  motion.  Separate  detach- 
ments vcre  ordered  to  proceed,  one  to  Fort  Drane,  one  to 
attack  the  enemy  at  Pease  Creek,  to  the  soutliward,  one  to 
ravage  tlie  country  in  the  vicinity  of  tlie  Ouithhvcoochee, 
and  another  to  march  to  Volusia. 

Little  benelit  a]i})ears  to  have  resulted  from  the  cam- 
paign: a  careful  attention  to  the  plans  of  Indian  warfore 
laid  down,  at  an  earlier  age,  by  Captain  Benjamin  Church, 
of  New  England,  or  by  the  redoubtable  pioneer  of  Vir- 
ginia, Captain  John  Smith,  might  have  })roduced  effects 
liir  more  decided. 

A  small  detachment  of  troops  had  been  left,  about  the 
niiiUlle  of  ^farch,  to  guard  a  quantity  of  provision,  stored 
in  a  rude  biiildiug  lifteen  miles  up  the  Ouithlacoochee, 
JS'ot  having  been  heard  from  for  many  weeks  after,  they 
were  supposed  to  have  been  cut  off  by  the  Indians,  and 
no  attempt  was  made  to  relieve  them  until  towards  the 
latter  part  of  May,  when  three  of  the  garrison  managed 
to  escape  the  vigilance  of  tlieir  besiegers,  and  to  convey 
iutelligeucc  of  their  condition  to  Tallahassee.  The  small 
]iarty  had  been  defending  their  post  gallantly  for  more 
than  two  months  against  hosts  of  the  enemy;  their  block 
house  had  been  partially  destroyed  over  their  heads,  so 
tluit  tliiy  were  exposed  to  the  inclemencies  of  the  weather, 
and  tlieir  provision  consisted  entirely  of  corn.  A  steamer 
was  sent  to  the  river's  mouth,  and  the  comjiany  was  brought 
dowi'  to  it  in  a  barge. 

As  the  season  advanced,  the  enervating  influence  of  the 
climate  produced  its  natural  effect  upon  the  troojis.  The 
fevv'^rs  of  the  country  attacked  those  who  were  not  accli- 
mated, and  the  reSit  were  but  poorly  conditioned  for  an 
arduous  campaign.  Active  operations  for  the  most  part 
ceased ;  the  volunteers  were  discharged,  and  the  regular 


fU 


''t 


r  *,  .1 J 


136 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


'£''♦;• . 


soldiers  distribiited  among  the  different  forts  extending 
from  St.  Augustine  across  tlie  country  to  the  Suwanne. 
The  Indians  were  free  to  roam  wliere  they  listed  through  the 
immense  wilderness  to  the  soutJiward,  and  to  lay  plans  of 
secret  attack  upon  every  exposed  settlement  or  plantation. 

About  the  end  of  A^.nl,  a  terrible  massacre  took  place 
at  Charlotte  Harbor;  and  in  May  and  June,  the  country 
between  the  St.  Johns  and  the  Atlantic,  nearly  as  far  north 
as  St.  Augustine,  was  generally  ravaged  by  the  Indians. 
Their  attacks  extended  to  the  vicinity  of  Mandarin,  only 
sixteen  or  eighteen  miles  south  of  Jacksonville.  A  >[r. 
Motte,  residing  at  that  place,  was  murdered,  and  h.  esrab- 
lishnient  was  destroyed. 

Early  in  June,  the  Indians,  emboldened  by  success  in  tiie 
destruction  of  plantations,  and  the  expulsion  of  the  whites 
from  such  extensive  districts,  beset  the  fort  at  Micanopy, 
which  was  garrisoned  by  a  company  uuder  the  command 
of  Major  lleillman,  then  at  the  head  of  the  army  west  of 
St.  John's  river.  They  were  driven  oif,  bu.'  not  without 
some  loss  on  the  part  of  the  whites 

In  July,  Fort  Drane  had  become  so  unhealthy  that  it 
wius  thought  necessary  to  abandon  it.  As  the  troops  were 
on  their  march  u})on  the  evacuation  of  the  place,  they 
had  a  sharp  brush  with  some  hundreds  of  Indians  who 
lay  in  wait  for  them  near  Welika  Pond,  in  the  vicinity  of 
Micanopy.  Towards  the  close  of  the  month  the  light- 
house at  Cape  Florida  was  destroyed.  The  kee])er,  named 
Thompson,  was  singularly  preserved  by  clinging  to  the  top 
of  the  stone  wall  of  the  building,  while  the  wood-work 
was  burned  out  from  within.  After  the  Indians  had,  by 
their  own  act,  cut  off  the  means  of  access  to  the  sunnnit, 
they  descried  tlie  unfortunate  "vm^  half  dead  with  the  heat 
and  smoke,  and  shot  at  hi  n  a  long  time  without  eifect. 
He  was  able  to  crouch  in  such  a  manner  upon  the  top  of  the 
wall  as  to  elude  their  aim,  until  they  took  their  departure. 


1 


1 


Ult    it 

were 

they 

who 

lity  of 

hght- 


FLORIDA    INDIANS. 


187 


It  would  be  impracticable,  in  a  sketch  of  this  kind,  to 
give  full  particulars  of  the  skirmishing,  plundering,  and 
murders  which  were  to  be  heard  of  on  every  side  during 
tlie  summer  of  1836.  About  the  middle  of  August,  it  was 
ascertained  that  Osceola  and  a  large  company  of  his  fol- 
lowers were  staying  in  the  vicinity  of  the  abandoned  Fort 
Drane,  for  the  sake  of  securing  the  corn  growing  upon  the 
neighboring  plantations.  They  were  attacked  and  defeated 
by  Major  Pierce. 

In  September  a  marauding  party  of  Indians  made  their 
way  to  within  seven  miles  of  Jacksonville,  where  they 
attacked  the  house  of  Mr.  Iligginbotham.  There  were 
only  two  men  in  the  house,  but,  having  a  number  of  guns, 
and  receiving  resolute  assistance  from  the  women  of  the 
family,  they  successfully  resisted  the  assault.  After  the 
Indians  had  retired,  Iligginbotham  hastened  with  all  speed 
to  Jacksonville,  and  procured  a  party  of  twelve  men, 
under  Major  Hart,  to  pursue  them.  Taking  the  Indian 
trail,  the  company  followed  it  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Johns, 
ten  miles  distant  from  the  scene  of  the  attack.  Tlie  build- 
ing had  been  reduced  to  ashes,  and  the  half-burned  body 
of  its  proprietor  lay  among  the  ruins.  Mrs.  Johns  had 
been  scalped,  and  left  to  perish.  Before  their  departure, 
one  of  the  savages  set  lire  to  her  clothes,  but  she  managed 
to  extinguish  the  flame,  and  to  creep  away  from  the  burning 
building.  In  this  miserable  condition  slie  was  discovered, 
lying  by  the  border  of  the  swamp,  and  kindly  cared  for. 

The  perpetrators  of  this  outrage,  having  secured  good 
horses,  effected  their  escape. 

Before  the  end  of  this  month,  additional  forces  from 
Tennessee  were  brought  into  Florida,  and  a  body  of  nearly 
a  thousand  Creeks,  led  by  the  Chiefs  Paddy  Carr  and  Jim 
Boy,  came  to  lend  their  aid  against  the  Indians  of  tlie  penin- 
sula. An  army  of  from  one  to  two  thousand  men,  includ- 
ing the  Tennessee  bri^j-ade,  under  Governor  Call,  inarched, 


..  ;'  ,'1./  -i  -i'^^^^'.-.tia 

■f     .,,.  ■  I'-'J.-,,  ■..j-i;i:(i:9 
,ii''.K- '■■.;'-•;  ■■■. . '■■ifi^rf' 


*^^!V?'^-(1 


•V.-1  I'rrTiMlt'ri^t:    ■;'  ',■  ". 


,-     I 


138 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


in  the  beginning  of  October,  to  the  desertcc'  Fort  Drane, 
but  found  that  the  Indians  had  recently  left  their  quarters 
in  that  neighborhood.  The  trail  of  the  fugitives  was  fol- 
lowed towards  the  Oiiitlilacoochce,  but  the  pursuit  of  sav- 
ages, in  their  own  country,  especially  in  such  a  country  as 
1^'lorida,  by  regular  troops,  encumbered  with  baggage,  and 
ignorant  of  the  fastnesses  of  the  enemy,  proved  as  futile 
in  that  instance  as  upon  former  and  subsequent  occasions. 
Litlle  was  accomplished  against  the  enem}'',  who  were  ena- 
bled, at  any  time,  to  retreat  beyond  the  reach  of  their 
jnirsuers,  and  only  showed  themselves  where  they  could 
attack  the  whites  at  a  disadvantage.  Under  existing  cir- 
cLunstances,  the  main  force  was  obliged  to  return  to  Fort 
Drane,  not  without  the  loss  of  a  great  number  of  their 
hcn'ses  iVom  hard  service  upon  indifl'erent  food. 

Colonel  Lane,  with  a  strong  force  of  Creek  Indians  and 
regular  troops,  made  an  excursion  into  the  enemy's  country 
fi'(Mn  Tampa  Bay,  during  the  early  part  of  this  month. 
Near  the  Ocklikany  Lake,  called  the  Spotted  Lake,  from 
the  great  number  of  small  wooded  islands  which  cover  its 
surlace,  about  sixty  miles  from  Tampa,  an  Indian  trail 
was  struck.  The  party  followed  this  track  to  the  south- 
Avard,  and  came  successively  upon  several  considerable 
Indian  villages  deserted  by  the  inhabitantvS.  Large  corn 
lields  were  seen  in  the  vicinity  of  these  settlements,  and 
some  hundreds  of  cattle  were  secured  by  the  Creek  Indians 
of  the  company.  At  one  advantageous  povSt,  where  the 
thick  underwood  on  the  borders  of  a  small  lake  offered 
protection  to  an  ambush,  the  Seminoles  attempted,  \insuc- 
cessfully,  to  resist  the  invaders.  They  were  driven  out 
into  the  open  country  and  dispersed.  Lane  and  his  detach- 
ment joined  General  Call  at  Fort  Drane  on  tiie  19th.  lie 
survived  this  service  but  a  few  days,  being  found  in  his 
tent,  nearly  dead,  with  the  point  of  his  sword  thrust  into 
the  brain  over  his  eye:  there  was  little  doubt  among  those 


proceed 
Lake, 
been  aji 
four  liuil 


FLORIDA  INDIANS. 


139 


conversant  witli  the  circumstances  of  liis  death,  but  that 
it  occurred  accidentally. 

The  combined  army,  of  more  than  two  thousand  rnen, 
marched  to  the  Ouitlilaeoochee  in  November.  This  region, 
which  had  been  a  favorite  resort  of  the  Seminolcs  through- 
out the  war,  Avas  now  found  entirely  abandoned,  and  trails 
were  discovered  trending  towards  tlie  great  Wahoo  Swamp. 
That  the  nicun  body  of  the  enemy  had  moved  in  that 
direction,  was  also  affirmed  by  an  old  negro,  found  at  an 
abandoned  village  on  the  river.  Taking  up  the  pursuit, 
a  portion  of  the  American  forces  followed  the  trail,  and 
had  a  sharp  engagement  with  the  Indians  on  the  border 
of  the  swamp.  There  was,  however,  abundant  space  for 
the  fugitives  to  retreat  into,  where  the  whites  Avere  unable 
to  follow  them,  and  po  heavy  loss  occurred  on  either  side. 

Another  battle  took  place  on  the  21st,  in  which  the 
Seminolcs  displayed  more  resolution,  and  stood  the  charge 
of  the  regular  troo})s  with  greater  firmness,  than  had  ever 
before  been  observed  in  them.  The  dangers  of  the  exten- 
sive morass  to  which  they  retreated  prov'ed  more  insur- 
mountable than  those  attendant  upon  the  contest  witli  the 
savages  themselves. 

Provisions  being  nearly  exhausted,  and  it  being  impos- 
sible to  procure  supplies  in  such  a  wilderness,  the  army 
proceeded  to  Volusia,  between  Lake  Georg(^  and  Dexter's 
Lake.  There  it  was  joined  Ijy  General  Jessup,  avIio  had 
been  api)oiuted  to  the  chief  command  in  Florida,  Avith 
four  h'.iudred  mounted  volunteers  from  Alabama. 


:  ■'■  ■\:r.rs} ■:(.,: --Ill 


f-r    U  .:.,■  I  ::itM 


it'.  ' -r  ■''><'■■>:. ^Mh 


uo 


India::  kaces  of  ameuica. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


PUUSUIT    OF    THE     SEMINOLES    SOUTHWARD — ENCOUNTKR    ON    THE 
HATCIIEE  LUSTEE — CONFERENCE  AND  TRUCE  WITH  THE  INDIANS 

RENEWAL    OF    THE    TREATY     OF    PAYNE's     LANDING 

NEGLECT  O.N  THE  PART  OF  THE    INDIANS  TO  COMPLY 

WITH  ITS  PKOVISIONS CAPTUKE,  SURRENDER, 

AND    TREACHEROUS    SEIZURE    OF   VARIOUS 
CHIEFS — DEATH  OF  OSCEOLA COLO- 
NEL Taylor's  campaign. 


"Wk  have  already  given  more  space  to  the  details  of  the 
Florida  tiim])aign,  than  such  ill-advised,  ill-coiiductod,  and 
trivial  operations  deserve.  We  would  be  the  last  to  en- 
deavor to  detract  from  the  deserved  laurels  of  many  of 
the  brave  men  who  were  engaged  in  them,  -svliile  we  can 
but  lament  that  their  lives  should  have  been  sacrificed; 
less  by  the  weapons  of  the  savages  than  by  the  diseases 
of  the  country;  that  the  public  money  should  have  been 
sf^  landered;  and  the  whole  peninsula  so  long  kept  in  a 
state  of  agitation  and  suspense,  when  pacific  measures 
might  have  kejit  matters  comparatively  at  rest. 

Before  the  first  of  January,  General  Jessup,  marching 
wdth  his  troops  from  Volusia,  with  the  cooperation  of  Colonel 
Foster,  dispatched  from  Tampa,  ranged  the  whole  country 
on  the  Ouithlacooehee  and  other  haunts  of  the  Seminoles, 
and  examined  the  deep  recesses  of  the  Wahoo  morass, 
without  finding  an  enemy.  The  Indian  trails  wliieh  were 
observed,  all  led  to  the  unexjilored  wilderness  of  the  south. 
Thither  he  started  in  pursuit  of  the  fugitive  Seminoles, 
on  the  22d  of  January  (1837).  On  the  succeeding  day,  a 
detachment,  under  Cohjiiel  Cawfield,  sur])rised  Osuehee  or 
Cooper,  a  Seminole  chief,  then  encamped  at  Ahapopka 
Lake,  from  which  flows  the  Ocklawaha.     The  chief  and 


tee  C^r 

Cyjn'(>; 

iiiiule 
litrone- 
hy. 
Seniiiu 
JIavin< 
turnec 
es('oile( 
camp, 
and  a 
nt  Foi 
Jislimei 
tliat  ijo 
On  t 
by  Phi 


N    THE      I 

ANS 


of  the 
?fl,  and 
,  to  en- 
uiiiy  of  I 
we  can  | 
rillced;  ' 
:'liseasca  i 
ire  Lcen  ] 
pt  in  a 
icasures 

arching 
Coloiicl 
country 
rninolcs, 

inoraps, 
i(.'h  were 
10  south. 

ninoles, 
g  (hiy,  a 
uchec  or 
hapopka 
hicf  and 


P'LORIDA   INDIANS. 


141 


several  of  his  warriors  were  killed,  and  a  number  of  pris- 
oners were  taken. 

The  main  army,  still  following  the  course  of  the  Indian 
track,  now  came  to  the  high  ridge  of  sandy  hills  lying 
directly  south  of  Lake  Aha])opka.  The  second  day  after 
passing  these  hills,  cattle  of  the  Indians  were  seen,  and 
shortly  after  a  scouting  party,  under  Colonel  Henderson, 
discovered  the  enemy  upon  the  borders  of  the  stream  of 
Ilatchce  Lustee.  The  troops  instantly  charged,  and  drove 
them  into  the  swamp,  taking  twenty  or  thirty  prisoners, 
mostly  women  and  children. 

On  the  same  day  another  large  body  of  Indians  was 
discovered  a  little  farther  to  the  westward,  who  fled  pre- 
cipitately upon  the  approach  of  troops.  One  of  the  Semi- 
nolcs  was  found  watching  by  his  sick  wife,  who  had  been 
left  as  unable  to  travel.  This  Indian  was  sent  the  nexii 
morning  (January  28th)  to  invite  the  Seminole  chiefs  to 
a  conference.  The  army  was  marched  to  the  border  of 
Tohopekaliga  Lake,  (into  which  emjities  the  Ilatchce  Lus- 
tee Creek,)  and  encani{)ed  between  its  waters  and  the  Big 
Cyjiress  swamp,  to  await  the  return  of  the  messenger.  He 
made  his  apuearance  on  the  following  day,  bringi  g  intel- 
ligence from  the  hostile  chiefs,  who  agreed  to  have  a  par- 
ley. The  first  who  presented  himself,  on  the  part  of  the 
Seminoles,  was  Abraham,  Mieanopy's  negro  counsellor. 
Having  held  a  consultation  with  General  Jessup,  he  re- 
turned to  his  people;  but  three  days  after,  February  3d, 
escorted  Jumper,  Alligator,  and  two  other  cliiefs  to  the 
camp.  It  was  concluded  that  a  grand  talk  should  be  held, 
and  a  new  treaty  entered  into  on  the  18th  of  the  month, 
at  Fort  Dade,  on  the  Big  Ouithlacoochec.  To  that  estab- 
lishment the  army  immediately  repaired,  as  it  was  agreed 
that  liostilities  should  be  suspended  until  after  the  council. 

On  the  8th  of  the  month,  several  hundred  Indians,  led 
by  Philip,  the  chief  who  had  long  been  the  terror  of  the 


m 


f. 


•  '■•.it'll 


m 


'.i'l 


142 


IXDIAX  HACKS  OF  AMKUICA. 


Mr 


n 


eastern  portion  of  the  jic'iinsnln,  attacked  Colou(^l  Fanning, 
then  in  tlie  oe't-iijiation  oi^  ii  station  on  liuke  ^fonroe,  with 
a  mixed  nanison  of  re,L;,idars,  volunteers  and  Creeks,  The 
Creek  eliief  Paddy  Carr  was  of  tlic  coini)any.  Tlio  assail- 
ants were  driven  oil"  with  h-ss,  and,  in  cheir  retreat,  met 
a  messenger  sent  by  Micano])y  to  convey  intelligence  of 
the  truce. 

Some  delays  occurred  'n  bringing  about  the  conference 
assigned  foi'  the  ISth,  but  at  last  most  of  the  principal 
Seminole  chiefs  signed  a  treaty  similar  to  that  of  Payne's 
Landing,  wherel)y  they  agreed  to  remove  west  of  the 
iMississipjii.  The  United  States'  government  was  to  make 
renumeralion  for  the  stock  which  must  necessarily  be  left 
behind,  and  to  pay  stijudated  annuities  as  before  agreed. 
There  can  be  Init  little  doubt  that,  even  on  this  occasion, 
the  Indians  had  no  real  intention  of  complying  with  the 
re(piisitions  of  government.  Few  came  in  on  the  days 
a})poiuted,  and  rumors  were  circulated  among  them — 
whether  actually  believed,  or  only  used  as  an  excuse  ft)r 
absenting  themselves,  does  not  aj)i)ear — that  the  wliites 
intended  to  destroy  the  whole  tribe  as  soon  as  they  should 
be  secured  on  board  the  government  vessels. 

Osceola  and  Coe  Ilajo,  still  })retending  that  their  endeavor 
was  to  collect  their  jjcople  for  transjxjrtatlon,  held  a  great 
festival  or  giime  at  ball  near  Fort  Mellon,  upon  Lake  Mon- 
roe, at  the  eastern  part  of  the  peninsula,  ^fhey  doubtless 
chose  this  place  for  gathering  their  followers,  as  being  at 
a  safe  distance  from  the  ])oiiit  of  end)arkation  on  Tampa 
Bay.  On  the  2(1  of  June,  Osceola  took  two  hundred  of 
his  warriors  to  Tampa  ]5ay,  and,  either  by  force  or  persua- 
sion, induced  the  old  king  Micanopy,  and  all  the  other 
Lidians  who  had  rendezvoused  there  in  pursuance  of  the 
treaty,  to  iuove  off  again  to  the  wilderness. 

Hearing  of  this,  the  commandant  at  Fort  Mellon, 
Colonel  Uaruey,  made  up  his  mind  to  entraj)  such  of 


leadint 
hood 
that  till 
Gen 
but  thi 


J^rdlon, 
such  of 


FLOKIDA  IXDIANS. 


143 


tlie  chiefs  as  were  in  his  vicinity,  untlcr  pretence  of  a 
conferenco ;  and  retaliate  upon  the  Seniinolcs  for  thoir 
breach  of  faith  at  Tampa,  by  seizing  those  who  should 
ajipcar.  Osceola  got  wind  of  the  design,  and  it  conse- 
(pu'utly  proved  futile. 

Fort  Mellon  and  Volusia  were  abandoned  during  this 
month;  the  sickness  attendant  upon  the  season  having 
commenced  its  ravages  among  the  troops;  and  the  Indians 
were  left  free  to  roam  over  that  whole  portion  of  the  coun- 
try, while  the  settlers  whose  dwellings  were  exposed  to 
their  assaults,  Avere  forced  to  fly  to  places  of  jjrotection. 

'J'he  last  of  the  month.  Captain  Walton,  keeper  of  the 
floating  light  ■  n  Carysford  reef,  was  killed,  together  with 
one  of  his  assistants,  at  Key  Largos,  the  most  consider- 
able of  the  Florida  Keys.  He  had  a  garden  at  this 
island,  and  had  just  landed,  coming  from  the  light,  when 
he  and  his  J'arty  were  lired  upon.  The  whole  south- 
eastern sea-coast  was  then  in  undisturbed  possession  of 
the  hostile  Indians. 

In  September,  Grcneral  Hernandez,  stationed  at  Fort  Pey- 
ton, a  few  miles  from  St.  Augustine,  made  an  ex})editiou 
to  the  southward,  and  ca})tured  the  dreaded  Philip,  L'^chee 
Billy,  and  nearly  one  hundred  other  Indians  and  negroes. 
Philip's  son  coming  with  a  flag  of  truce  to  St.  Augustine, 
was  taken  prisoner,  and  retained  in  captivity. 

Other  chiefs  and  warriors — among  them  Tustenugge — 
delivered  themselves  uf)  at  Black  Creek,  and  several  caj)- 
tures  were  made  at  other  points;  but  the  most  important 
transaction  of  this  autumn — whether  justifiable  or  not — 
was  the  seizure  of  Osceola,  Alligator,  and  six  other  of  the 
leadinfic  Seminoles.  Thev  had  come  into  the  neighbor- 
hood  of  Fort  Peyton,  and  sent  word  to  General  Jessup 
that  they  desired  a  pai'ley. 

General  Hernandez  was  deputed  to  hold  the  conference, 
but  the  talk  of  the  Indians  being  pronounced  "evasive 


;;i'?' 


■'  ■'i■^I:";'■'l>■i'u''■r'!''f*il 


iVi-  I'M 

■I        ,     -,'    •Kf^jp- 


.1    "'  V,. 


,M 


1-41: 


INDIAN  RA.CyS  OF  AMEKICA. 


nnil  nnsatisfactory,"  tlio  commandor-in-cbief  dispatched  a 
forec  to  capture  the  whole  body;  these  chiefs  accordingly, 
with  over  sixty  followers,  fell  into  the  bands  of  tbeii'  ene- 
mies. The  excuse  giV(Mi  for  this  act  wius  that  the  treachery 
of  the  Tuihans  upon  former  occasions  had  deprived  tliem 
of  all  tlaiins  to  good  faith  on  the  part  of  the  whites. 
Osceola  waa  removed  to  Charlest(ni,  and  died  in  confme- 
:iK  ut  on  the  30ih  of  January,  1S?8.  If  he  liad  survived, 
he  was  to  have  been  taLcn,  with  other  Seniinoles,  to  the 
west  of  the  Afississijipi. 

In  tiie  same  month  various  otlier  captures  were  made, 
until  the  Indians  in  bondage  at  St.  Augustine  nuiid)?rod 
nearly  one  hundred  and  'ity.  The  United  States  forces, 
consisting!  f  rcguhais,  volunteers,  seamen,  and  Indian  allies, 
distributed  among  the  various  posts  in  Florida  at  this  time, 
are  set  down  at  little  short  of  nine  thousand  men! 

Sam  Jones,  or  Abiaca,  was,  after  the  cajiture  of  Oscet)la, 
one  of  the  most  forward  of  the  Seminole  chiefs,  lie  ap- 
pears to  have  been  spokesman  at  a  conference  held,  not 
far  froni  this  time,  between  his  tribe  and  deputies  irom 
the  (Jreek  nation,  bearing  proposals  and  advice  from  their 
celebrated  chief  John  Ross. 

We  must  next  proceed  to  the  campaign  of  Colonel  Zaiih- 
ary  Taylor,  tho  hero  of  many  battles,  and  afterwards  the 
di^-.tinguished  President  of  the  Unit(;d  States.  He  left 
Fort  Gardner,  a  station  sixty  miles  due  cast  from  Fort 
Brooke,  on  Tam])a  Bay,  with  some  six  hundred  troops,  to 
follow  the  enemy  into  their  hidden  retreats  at  the  south. 
Pursuing  the  course  of  the  Kissimce,  the  army  had  ad- 
vaiiccd  within  fifteen  miles  of  the  great  lake  Okeechobee, 
on  the  northern  borders  of  the  unexplored  everglades, 
when  intelligence  was  obtained  from  a  prisoner,  that  the 
Seminoles  were  encamped  in  force  on  the  eastern  shore  of 
the  Kissimee  lake.  "With  a  portion  of  his  army.  Colonel 
Taylor  crossed  the  river,  and  hastened  to  attack  the  In- 


dians 
befoi 
and  : 
coura 
dispei 

of  th( 

no  les 
being 


VARion; 

OF  I.\l 

FROM 

CHI 

( 


ll 

." 

;i       Dl'H 

1 

j    import; 

/J          Many  j 

\      1    Mellon 

u         St.  Job 

! :    the  Suv 

near  Fo 

5         in  Avhic 

I    i     taking ; 

1    I        On  tl 

jl   t'ompan_ 

I     I   gage  me 

.    j 

Uriven  1 

— -         — 1 

4 


I' !'■',« 


M-iiludes, 


FLOniDA  INDIANS. 


1^5 


(liana  in  tlic  lianimock  wliere  tlioy  were  posted.  Never 
before  bud  the  Indian  rillos  done  more  deadly  execution, 
and  never  liad  tlieir  warriors  evinced  more  determined 
courage.  They  were,  with  great  difTiculty,  dislodged  %nd 
dispersed:  the  number  of  killed  and  wounded  on  the  part 
of  the  whites  considerably  exceeded  that  of  the  Indians, 
no  less  than  one  hundred  and  eleven  of  Col.  Taylor's  men 
being  wounded,  and  twenty-eiglit  killed. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

VARIOUS   MINOR    ENGAGEMENTS — SURKENDER   OF    LARGE   NUMBERS 

OF  INDIANS CONTINUANCE  OF  DEPREDATIONS — BLOOD-HOUNDS 

FROM  CITBA ATTACK  UPON  A  COMPANV  OF  ACTORS SEMINOLE 

CHIEFS  BROUGHT  BACK  FROM  THE  WEST  TO  REPORT  THEIR 

CONDITION  TO  THEIR  COUNTRYMEN — COL.  HARNEY's 

EXPEDITION  TO  THE  EVERGLADES — END  OF  THE 

WAR — INDIANS  SHIPPED  WEST — NUMBERS 

STILL  REMAINING  IN  FLORIDA. 

During  December  (1837),  several  encounters  of  minor 
importance  took  place  in  different  parts  of  the  country. 
Many  prisoners  were  taken  in  the  district  between  Fort 
Mellon  and  liake  Poinsett,  near  the  head  waters  of  the 
St.  John's,  and  a  small  skirmish  occurred  as  far  north  a.s 
the  Suwanne.  There  was  a  more  severely-contested  action 
near  Fort  Fanning,  on  this  river,  early  in  January  (18oi'~!), 
in  Avhich  the  whites  met  Avith  some  loss,  but  succeeded  in 
taking  a  number  of  prisoners. 

On  the  eastern  sea-coast,  not  far  from  Jupiter  Inlet,  a 
company  under  Lieutenant  Powell  was  worsted  in  an  en- 
gagement, and  retreated  with  loss.     The  Indians  had  been 
driven  into  a  swamp  on  Lochahatchee  Creek,  where  they 
10 


tr.''.]  •.■i.vj<  |<|f/7| 
•';'■"■"  '•'»•'  ,'.Ml 


I  ■  .   .  '  ;■'■.','..'  '* .  .'.rig 


■'  >  *- 


'I 


1-10 


INDIAN  UACEH  OF  AMKIUCA. 


miulu  a  spii'itetl  resistance  until  their  pursuers  found  it 
ne(!(\ssury  to  retreat. 

General  Jessup  attaeked  and  broke  up  this  cncainpnieiit 
of  the  Indians,  towards  tlie  end  of  .January.  lie  was  him- 
self wonnded  ill  the  action.  TosU-e^^cf  was  the  chief  wiio 
connnand(,'d  the  Seminoles  in  both  tliese  battles. 

Tiie  (Jeneral  was  now  anxious  to  C(Mielude  a  treaty  witli 
the  Indiiins,  by  which  they  shouhl  be  ,'llovved  to  remain 
in  their  own  country,  eonlining  themselves  to  speeitied 
districts,  bnt  the  govcrnuient  refused  assent  to  any  such 
])roposition.  He  nevertheless  ])rocce(led  to  bring  about 
parleys  with  his  saviige  o[)ponents,  as  it  was  eviilent  that 
desultory  hostilities  might  be  indefinitely  protracted. 

Tlu'  Scmimiles,  miserably  reduced  by  the  troubled  life 
they  ha'l  led  s<^  l<»ug,  and  weary  of  proiitless  warfare,  hard- 
ship and  I'xpusure,  were  induced  to  surrender  in  large 
numbers.  They  ai>parently  expected  to  be  allowed  to 
remain  in  the  country,  as  they  were  assured  by  the  olliccrs 
^vith  whom  they  treated,  that  every  endeavor  wi>uld  be 
made  to  procure  that  permission  from  the  government. 

When  General  Jessuj)  left  Florida,  in  A})ril,  I808,  leav- 
ing (jcneral  Taylor  in  command,  more  than  two  thousand 
of  the  dmigerous  tribe  were  in  the  power  of  the  whites. 
Part  t)f  these  had  been  captured,  but  the  larger  portion 
ha<l  delivered  themselves  up  upon  fair  promises. 

Philip  and  Jumper  bolh  died  on  their  nnite  to  the 
west,  the  iui'iner  on  board  the  vessel  in  which  he  wa.s 
embarked,  and  the  latter  at  New  Orleans. 

The  hopes  entertained,  after  tl;cse  events,  that  the  war 
was  substantially  at  an  end,  proved  fallaci(jus.  ^Murders 
were  committed  during  the  summer  and  fall,  by  prowling 
parties  of  Indians  in  widely-distant  parts  of  the  country. 
On  the  0('klikoni  and  Oseilla  rivers  in  West  Florida, 
small  establishments  sull'ercd  from  the  depredations  of  the 
savages;  and  their  hostile  feeling  was  manifest  whenever 


aniiv, 


»d  it 

lucnt 

him- 

'  who 

^-  witli 
ciuuin 
ocilu'tl 

iiljout 
nt  that 

■a. 

led  life 
c>,  luinl-  \ ' 
u  Uu'j-'o 
)\vril  to 
;ollicrrs 
oulil  be    1 

lUMlt. 

8,  U'av- 
lousaivl 

whites!. 

portion 

0  to  tlie 
he  Avas 

the  war 
Murder.-^ 


pr 


owliiii. 


country. 

Morida, 
OIKS  of  the 
whenever 


FLOUIDA  INDIANS. 


147 


a  vessel  was  in  distress  upon  the  dangerous  enstcrii  and 
Routliern  coust. 

This  desidtorv  warfare,  marked  by  many  piiinful  and 
horrible  detiiils  of  private  sud'erin,!^  and  disaster,  continued 
mitil  the  sprin";of  bs;{(>.  No  ediiferenee  could  \h'  obtained 
with  the  leadin;^  ('hiefs,  and  Indians  were  every  where 
lurking  in  small  bands  ready  to  fire  upon  tlie  solitary  trav- 
eller, or  to  ru.sh  at  an  unguarded  hour  upon  an  isolated 
l)lantation. 

(Jeneral  Afacond),  who  had  eoiuniand  of  the  army  during 
April  and  Ma^',  suecei-ded  in  bringing  about  a  parley  with 
some  of  the  Seminoles,  in  which  it  was  agreed  that  the 
tribe  shouhl  stay  peaceably  in  i''lorida  until  intelligence 
could  be  brought  of  the  sate  arrival  and  prosperous  con- 
dition of  the  captives  already  sliijijicfl  wi'stward.  'I'lu; 
Tallahassee  chief  Tigertail,  and  Abiaea,  having  had  no 
concern  with  this  treaty,  refused  to  abide  by  it,  and  blo(tdy 
skirmishes  and  assassinations  continued  to  be  heard  from 
on  every  side. 

The  govei'ument  of  Florida  now  offered  a  bounty  of 
two  hundred  dollars  for  each  Indian  secured  or  killed. 
We  cannot  even  enumcrato  one  half  the  jielty  engage- 
ments and  sanguinary  transactions  of  the  ensuing  winter 
and  spring.  In  March,  1840,  bloodhounds  were  hrought 
into  Morida  from  C'id)a,  to  aid  in  tracking  and  ferreting 
out  the  savages  from  their  lurking  places.  Cieneral  I'ay- 
lor  had  been  authori/.ed,  during  the  i)reeeding  autumn,  to 
])rocnrc  this  novel  addition  to  the  elUcient  force  of  the 
army,  and  natives  of  the  island  were  also  secured  to  train 
and  manage  the  dogs.  ^J^herc  was  a  great  outcry  raised, 
and  i)erhaps  justly,  at  this  barbarous  plan  of  warl'are,  but 
little  seems  to  have  resulted  from  the  o[ieratiou  except  the 
furnishing  a  valuable  breed  of  the  animal  for  future  do- 
mestic use,  and  the  supplying  of  excellent  subje(Jt  matter  for 
the  caricaturists,  who  made  the  war  a  theme  for  ridicule. 


-f! 


I 


•■  1  \    '  .'ill 


i  V 


kv,  m*  '^vl 

Jlii;,ii,w..  1.1. 1  - ,.'  1 1 


'"■^.i'lcv; 


'I 


-I 


148 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMEUICA. 


Before  tlio  1st  of  June,  many  more  families  wcro  mas- 
saered,  and  several  bloody  engagements  occurred  between 
comparatively  small  comj)anics  of  Avliites  and  Indians. 
Near  the  close  of  May,  a  ludicrous  though  tragical  inci- 
derit  took  place  on  tlie  road  between  Picolata  and  St. 
Augustine. 

A  company  of  play-actors,  en  route  for  the  latter  town, 
were  set  iipon  by  the  noted  chief  Wild  Cat,  with  a  large 
body  of  Indians.  Four  were  killed,  and  the  "property  " 
of  the  establishment  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  savages. 
Nothing  could  have  delighted  them  more  than  an  aec{uisi- 
tion  so  congenial  to  thei''  tastes.  The  tawdry  red  velvet, 
spangles,  and  sashes,  which  every  where  obtain  as  the  ap- 
propriate costume  of  the  stage,  were  now  put  to  a  new 
use,  and  served  as  royal  appendages  to  the  dusky  forms  of 
the  Seminole  warriors.  Decked  in  this  finery,  they  made 
their  exultant  appearance  before  Fort  Scarle,  challenging 
the  little  garrison  to  an  engagement. 

The  month  of  August  was  marked  by  secnes  of  terrible 
interest.  On  the  Suwannee,  eleven  families  were  driven 
from  their  homes,  and  many  of  their  members  mui'dcred: 
the  settlement  on  Indian  Key  was  almost  totally  destroyed, 
six  person^  being  massacred.  Nothing  was  accom])lished 
in  any  way  tending  to  bring  the  war  to  an  end,  or  to  miti- 
gate its  horrors,  until  autumn. 

It  was  resolved,  at  last,  to  try  fair  measures,  since  foul 
proved  of  so  little  avail,  and  a  number  of  the  principal 
Seminoles  who  had  experienced  the  realities  of  a  western 
life,  among  whom  were  old  Micanopy  and  Alligator,  wei'c 
brought  back  to  Florida,  for  the  pur})ose  of  ])ointing  out 
to  their  brethren  the  advantages  of  their  new  homes,  anil 
inducing  peaceable  comj)liance  with  the  intended  removal. 
A  meeting  was  obtained  at  Fort  King,  early  in  November, 
with  Tigertail  and  other  Seminole  chiefs,  but  after  a  few 
days  of  profitless  parley,  the  whole  of  the  hostile  party 


Th 

SUITC 

blee 
j   Koi't 
j   unsafe 
I  suHic; 

'     \y\ 

ted-ioii 
tlid  nc 
consic 
pursue 
suvagt 
ator)' 
-loh 
re|)ort( 
fil'ty  Ii 
Florid 


I 


FLORIDA  INDIANS. 


149 


rnas- 
wecn 
iians. 
inci- 
d  St. 

town, 
large 
,ert3" 
vagcs. 
^quisi- 
,'elvet, 
lie  ap- 
a  new 
rnis  of 
-  made 


engnig. 


:crrn)le 
driven 
rdered : 
troved, 
)lisl\ed 
to  niitl- 


nce  foul 
irincipal 
western 
(.)r,  were 
ting  out 
nes,  ami 
removal. 
)veinber, 
ter  a  tew 
ilo  party 


disappeared,  and  witli  them  all  prospect  of  an  aniieablo 
settlement  of  didieulties. 

The  Indians  continued  their  depredations,  murdering 
and  plundering  with  greater  boldness  than  ever.  In  iJe- 
cember.  Colonel  Harney  attacked  the  enemy  in  quartei'S, 
which  they  had  till  then  occupied  in  undisturbed  security, 
viz:  the  islands  and  dry  spots  of  tliat  waste  of  "grass- 
water,"  as  the  natives  term  it,  the  l^A'erglades.  He  liad 
obtained  a  negro  guide,  who  knew  of  the  haunts  of  the 
chief  Chaikika  and  his  people,  and,  taking  a  considerable 
company  in  boats,  he  j)rocceded  to  beat  up  his  quarters. 
The  }iartv  came  upon  the  Indians  most  iinexpectedly : 
Chaikika  was  shot  by  a  private  after  he  had  thrown  down 
his  arms,  and  his  men,  with  their  families,  were  surrounded 
and  taken  before  they  had  time  to  escape.  Nine  of  the 
men  were  hanged!  on  the  ground  that  they  were  concerned 
ill  the  Indian  Kc}'  massacre;  some  of  the  property  plun- 
dered on  that  occasion  being  found  in  the  camp. 

The  only  other  important  event  of  the  month  was  the 
surrender  of  a  son  and  a  brother  of  the  old  .md  implaca- 
ble chieftain  'i'lgertail.  They  delivered  themselves  u]>  at 
Fort  King.  In  Middle  Florida,  travelling  continued  jls 
unsafe  as  ever,  unless  in  well-armed  companies,  of  force 
sulUcient  to  keep  the  lurking  savages  in  awe. 

We  have  now  chronicled  the  principal  events  of  this 
tedious,  harassing,  and  most  expensive  war.  Hostilities 
did  not,  indeed,  cease  at  the  period  under  our  present 
consideration,  but  a  knowledge  of  *he  true  policy  to  be 
pui-sued  towards  these  ignorant  and  truly  unfortunate 
savages  began  to  be  generally  dilfu.sed,  and  more  WMicili- 
atory  measures  were  adopted. 

-lohuC.  Spencer,  Secretary  of  Wa^,  in  Novendior,  1842, 
reported  that,  during  the  current  year,  four  hundred  and 
fifty  Indians  had  been  S(?nt  west  of  the  Mississippi  from 
Florida,  and  that  two  hundred  more  were  supposed  to  have 


150 


IXDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


surrendered.  Tliis  report  proceeds:  ''The  number  of 
troops  has  been  gradually  diminished,  leaving  an  adequate 
number  to  proteet  the  inhabitants  from  the  miseraljle 
rerimants  of  tribes,  still  remaining.  We  have  advices  that 
arrangements  have  been  made  with  all  but  a  very  few  of 
those  Indians  for  their  removal  west  of  the  Mississi])pi,  or 
to  the  district  in  the  southern  part  of  the  peninsula  assigned 
them  for  their  habitation;  and  it  is  believed  that,  by  this 
time,  all  the  bands  north  of  that  district,  have  agreed  to 
cease  hostilities  and  remove  there.  Two  or  three  instan- 
ces of  outrages  have  occurred  since  the  orders  were  issued 
for  the  termination  of  hostilities,  but  they  are  ascertained 
to  have  been  committed  by  bauds  who  were  ignorant  of 
the  measures  adopted,  or  of  the  terms  offered." 

Some  dilliculty  arose  from  the  extreme  dislike  whii;li 
tlie  Seminoles  who  were  moved  westward  entertained  of 
being  located  upon  the  same  district  witli  the  Creeks,  and 
a  deputation  from  their  body  of  a  number  of  warriors, 
including  Alligator  and  Wild  Cat,  repaired  to  the  seat  of 
government  for  redress.  Measures  were  taken  to  satisfy 
them. 

The  Indians  wlio  still  keep  possession  of  a  district  in 
Southern  Florida,  consisting  of  Seminoles,  !\[icasaukies, 
Creeks,  Uchees  and  Choctaws,  are  variously  estimated  as 
numbering  from  three  hundred  and  fifty  to  five  liundred, 
including  women  and  children.  Seventy-six  were  ship})ed 
to  the  west  in  iSuO. 

As  a  tribe,  they  haVe  long  been  at  peace  with  their  white 
neighbors,  although  some  individuals  of  these  })eople 
have,  and  at  no  distant  date,  given  proof  tluit  the  spirit  of 
the  savage  is  not  yet  totally  extinct. 


sea 


vice ; 


captiv] 
Bai'thc 
land 
settleni 
1^'orl 
termii 


L-    of 

uate 
•able 
that 
\v  of 
ji,  or 
"■ned 

D 

'  this 
id  to 
istan- 
ssued 
Liiuod  I 
.nt  of    I 

ivhich 
led  of 
>,  and 
rriors. 
cat  of 
?atisiy 

I'ict  in 
lukics, 
tod  as 
udrod, 
Liipped 

r  white 
people 
pirit  of 


THE  INDIANS  OF  VIRGINIA. 


CHAPTER  I. 

EXPEDITION  OF  AMIDAS  AND  BARLOW OF  SIK  KICHAKD  GKENVILLE 

OF   BARTHOLOMEW  GOSNOLL,  WITH   CAPTAIN   SMITH — SETTLE- 
MENT AT  JAMESTOWN VISIT  TO  POWHATAN IMPROVIDENCE 

AND  DIFFICULTIES  OF  THE    COLONISTS EXPLORATION  OF 

THE  CHICKAHOMINY SMITH  TAKEN    PRISONER HIS 

TREATMENT  BY  THE  INDIANS. 

" He  lisi'd,  the  impersonation  of  an  age 
That  never  sliall  return.     His  soul  of  firo 
Was  iiindled  by  tlie  breath  of  the  rude  times 
He  lived  in." — Bryant. 

Tjie  most  complete  and  veracious  account  of  the  man- 
ners, appearance,  and  liistory  of  the  aboriginal  inhabitants 
of  Virginia,  particularly  those  who  dwelt  in  the  eastern 
portion  of  that  district,  uj)on  the  rivers  and  the  shores  of 
Chesapeake  Bay,  is  contained  in  the  narrati  ve  of  the  re- 
doubted Captain  John  Smith.  This  bold  and  energetic 
pioneer,  after  many  "strange  ventures,  happ'd  by  land  or 
sea;"  still  a  young  man,  though  a  veteran  in  military  ser- 
vice; and  inured  to  danger  and  hardship,  in  battle  and 
captivity  among  the  Turks,  '  "tied  his  fortunes  to  those  of 
Bartholomew  Gosnoll  and  his  party,  who  sailed  from  Eng- 
land on  the  19th  of  December,  1606,  (O.  S.)  to  form  a 
settlement  on  the  Western  Conthient. 

Former  attem})ts  to  establish  colonies  in  Virginia  had 
tei-miuated  disastrousl}-,  from  the  gross  incompetence,  ex- 


— .'I 


/,wt  * 


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INDIAN'   KACES  OFAMi'JUCA. 


II 


travfigant  expectations,  improvidence,  and  villanous  con- 
duct of  tliose  engaged  in  tlieni. 

In  1584,  Sir  AValter  Kaleigli  and  his  associates,  unde^ 
a  patent  from  Queen  Klizabetli,  had  sent  out  two  small 
vessels,  eonnnanded  In  Amidas  and  Barlow.  By  the  cir- 
cuitous route  then  usually  adopted,  the  exploring  party 
passed  the  West  Indies,  coasted  along  the  fragrant  shores 
of  Florida,  and  entered  Ocrakoke  Inlet  in  the  month  of 
July,  eni'aptured  with  the  rich  and  tiaiitful  appearance  of 
the  country.  Graphs  grew  to  the  very  borders  of  the  sea, 
ovcrs}n-eading  the  bushes  and  climbing  to  the  tops  of  trees 
in  luxurious  abundance. 

Tlieir  intercourse  with  the  natives  was  friendly  and 
]icaceral;  as  they  reported,  "a  more  kind,  loving  people 
could  not  be."  They  carried  on  trade  and  barter  with 
Grang.uiimeo,  brother  to  Winginia,  king  of  the  country, 
and  were  royally  entertained  by  his  wife  at  the  island  of 
Roanoke. 

Wingandacoa  was  the  Indian  name  of  the  country,  and, 
on  the  return  of  the  expedition,  in  the  ensuing  September, 
it  was  called  Virginia,  in  honor  of  the  queen. 

Sir  Eichard  Grenville,  an  associate  of  Raleigh,  visited 
Virginia  the  next  year  (1585),  and  left  over  one  hundred 
men  to  form  a  settlement  at  Roanoke.  Being  disappointed 
in  their  antiei[Kitions  of  profit,  or  unwilling  to  endure  the 
privation^  attendant  u))on  the  settlement  of  a  habitaticm 
in  the  wilderness,  all  returned  within  a  ye;,r.  A  most 
unjustifiable  outrage  was  committed  by  the  English  of  this 
party,  on  one  of  their  ex])loring  expeditions.  In  the 
words  of  the  old  narrative,  "At  Arpiascogoc  the  Indians 
stole  a  silver  cup,  wherci'ovo  wo  hunU  the  Toicut  (iml  sjtoykd 
tlicir  curne;  st  retu.rned  to  (jur  lleete  at  Tocokon."  Tliis  act 
is  but  a  fair  specimen  of  the  manner  in  which  redress  has 
been  soughtfor  in  juries  sustained  at  the  haudsuf  th^>  natives, 
not  only  in  early  times,  but  too  often  at  the  present  day. 


■'Jill 


<     /  /'  •/•/  I.Y    .10  HX 


XMI  Til. 


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i 

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IP 

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ft  ' 

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•ri,-if 


Vti 


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P 


i 


INDIANS   OF  VIUGINIA. 


153 


It  is  not  surprising  that  thereafter  tlic  Indians  should 
have  assumed  a  hostile  attitude,  Grauganimco  was  dead, 
and  Wingiuia,  who  had  now  taken  the  name  of  Pemissa- 
pan,  formed  a  plan  to  cut  olf  these  disorderly  invaders  of 
his  dominions.  This  resulted  oidy  in  some  desultory  skir- 
misliing;  and,  a  few  days  afterwards,  the  fleet  of  Sir  Fran- 
cis Drake  appearing  in  the  offing,  the  Avholc  colony  con- 
cluded to  return  to  hlngland. 

Mr.  Thomas  Ileriot,  whose  journal  of  this  voyage  and 
settlement  is  preserved,  gives  a  brief  account  of  the  sujoer- 
stitioiis,  customs,  and  manner  of  living  which  he  observed 
among  the  savages.  In  enumerating  the  animals  which 
were  used  foi'  Ibod  by  the  Indians,  he  mentions  that  "the 
salvages  sometimes  killed  a  Lyon  and  eat  him  "  lie  con- 
cludes his  nan  itivc  by  very  justly  remarking,  that  some 
of  the  company  "shewed  themselves  too  furious  in  slaying 
some  of  the  people  in  some  Townes  vpon  causes  that  on 
our  part  might  have  bin  borne  wicli  more  milducsse." 

(irenville,  in  the  fellow  ing  year,  knowing  nothing  of 
the  desertion  of  the  settlemoit,  took  three  ships  over  to 
America,  well  fiirnisheil  for  the  support  and  relief  of  those 
whom  he  had  left  on  the  preceding  vovage.  Finding  the 
place  abandoned,  he  left  fifty  settlers  to  reoccupy  it,  and 
returned  home.  On  the  next  arrival  from  Eiu'land  the 
village  was  again  found  deserted,  the  fort  dismantled,  and 
the  plantations  overgrown  with  weeds.  The  bones  of  one 
man  were  seen,  but  no  other  trace  appeared  to  tell  the  fate 
of  tlic  ccjlony.  It  afterwards  a})peared,  from  the  nai-ra- 
tions  of  the  savages,  that  three  hundred  men  from  Aquas- 
cogoc  and  other  Indian  towns  had  made  a  dt^scent  upon 
the  whites,  and  massacred  the  whole  number. 

The  experiment  of  colonization  was  again  tried,  and 
again  failed:  of  over  one  hundred  persons,  inclu  ling  some 
females,  who  landed,  none  were  to  be  found  by  those  w"io 
went  in  search  of  them  in  1589,  nor  was  their  fate  ever 


m 


i 


'    ,  '  ■'■■^•'r'i'i-..  ■  n<i"i 

;^.t;S'::.t:.'.;l;«8 


■<-')'  ■  ■■'''"'    if''.'  !l 


151 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AMERICA. 


ascertained.  It  is  rocorclcd  that,  before  tlie  departure  of 
the  sliips  tliat  hrought  over  tins  colony,  on  the  18th  of 
August  (0.  S  \  the  go  crnor'.s  dangliter,  Klhiior  Dare,  gave 
hirth  to  an  i.  •■':'■  it  ■  ah  was  named  Virginia,  and  was  the 
first  white  cl,  ■  -n  tlie  country. 

We  now  rei  ri  lu  *J'^snoll  and  his  companions,  num- 
bering a  little  o\er  one  i  ■  xlred,  who,  as  we  before  men- 
tioncil,  visited  the  country  m  1606.  They  sailed  from 
England  with  sealed  orders,  which  we"  .  not  to  be  opened 
imtil  their  arrival  in  America.  Landing  on  Cape  Henry, 
at  tlie  t'ntraiice  of  the  Chesapeake,  the  hostile  feelings  of 
the  Indians  were  soon  made  manifest;  "thirtic  of  the 
company  recreating  themselves  on  shore  were  assaulted 
by  fine  ^^alvages,  who  hurt  two  of  the  Knglish  wry  dan- 
gerously." The  box  containing  the  orders  from  the  author- 
ities in  England  being  opened.  Smith  was  found  to  be  one 
of  the  number  ai)pointed  as  a  council  to  govern  the  colony; 
but  he  was,  at  tliat  time,  in  close  custody,  in  consefpu>nce 
of  sundry  absurd  and  jealou.s  ;-fus])icions  which  had  been 
excited  against  him  on  the  voyage,  and  he  was  therefore 
refused  all  share  in  the  direction  of  the  public  ailairs. 
Before  the  return  of  the  ships,  however,  which  took  place 
in  June,  the  weak  and  ill-assorted  colony  were  glad  to 
avail  themselves  of  the  services  and  counsel  of  the  bold 
and  persevering  ea])tain.  His  enemies  were  disgraced, 
and  his  authority  was  formally  acknowledged.  Meantime, 
the  settlement  was  commenced  at  Jamestown,  forty  miles 
up  the  Powhatan,  now  James'  river.  The  Indians  appeared 
friendly,  and  all  hands  fell  to  work  at  the  innumeralile 
occupations  which  their  situation  required.  A  few  ruins, 
and  the  picturesque  remains  of  the  old  brick  church-tower 
still  .standing,  utterly  d  serted  amid  the  growth  of  shrubs 
and  willows,  are  all  that  remains  of  the  intended  city. 

Nev  port  and  Smith,  with  a  company  of  twenty  men, 
were  .HMit  to  exj^lore  the  upper  portion  of  the  river,  and 


1  \)vvn 
re fore 
Hairs.    \  \ 
place 
ad  to    I 
■  bold    i 
raced,    , 
iitirno,    ! 

miles 
pearcd 
leralilc 
:  !-uins, 
i-tower 
plirulis 
ity. 

V  men, 
,'er,  and 


INDIANS   OK  VIUGINIA. 


155 


made  tlieir  way  to  the  town  of  Powhatan,  situated  upon 
a  bluir  just  below  the  lulls,  and  at  the  head  of  navigation — 
the  same  S2)0t  afterwards  choser.  for  the  site  of  the  eapitol 
of  the  state.  The  natives  were  peacefible  and  kind  to  the 
adventurers,  receiving  them  with  every  demonstration  of 
interest  and  pleasure,  and  rejoiced  at  the  opportunity  for 
trallie  in  beads  and  ornaments.  As  they  approached 
Jamestown,  on  their  return,  they  perceived  some  hostile 
demonstrations;  and  arriving  there,  found  that  seventeen 
men  had  been  wounded,  and  that  one  boy  had  been  killed 
hy  the  Indians  during  their  absence. 

Wiuglield,  the  president  of  the  colony,  luid  injudiciously 
neglected  to  make  any  secure  fortifications,  and  the  jieople, 
halving  their  arms  stored  apart,  set  to  work  witliout  a 
guard;  thus  giving  to  the  liu-king  foe  convenient  opj>or- 
tunity  for  an  assault. 

After  Captain  Newport  had  sailed  for  England,  the 
colonists,  lelt  to  their  own  resources,  were  reduced  to  great 
straits  and  privation.  Most  of  them  were  men  utterly 
unfitted  for  the  situation  they  had  chosen,  and  unable  to 
endure  labor  and  hardship.  Feeding  upon  damaged  wheat, 
with  such  fish  and  crabs  as  they  could  catch;  worn  out  by 
unaccustomed  toil;  unused  to  the  climate,  and  ignorant  of 
its  diseases;  it  is  matter  of  little  wonder  that  fifty  of  the 
C()mi)any  died  before  the  month  of  October. 

Smith,  to  whom  all  now  looked  for  advice,  and  who 
was  virtually  at  the  head  of  aftairs,  undertook  an  expedi- 
tion down  the  river  for  purposes  of  trade.  Finding 
that  the  natives  "scorned  him  as  a  famished  man,"  deri- 
sively olVering  a  morsel  of  food  as  the  price  of  his  arms, 
he  adopted  a  very  common  exi)edient  of  the  time,  using 
force  whore  courtesy  availed  not.  After  a  harmless  dis- 
charge of  muskets,  he  landed  and  marched  up  to  a  village 
where  much  corn  was  stored.  He  would  not  allow  his 
men  to  plunder,  but  awaited  the  expected  attack  of  the 


■rr^*'-^ 


■   it'i      :   ■   -I   -.'.If!   ■ 

'■■■  'Viii#P>'r-W''l 


156 


IMtlAN    llAVKH  OF  AMKHICA. 


natives.  A  party  of  sixty  or  seventy  presently  appeared, 
"  with  a  most  hideous  noise — some  bhiek,  some  red,  sonic 
white,  some  jiarti-colored,  llioy  came  in  a  sf[uare  order, 
singing  and  dauufiiig  out  of  the  woods,  with  tiieir  Ukee 
(whii'h  was  an  J(h)Il  made  of  skinnos  stulfed  with  mcjsse, 
all  painted  and  hung  with  cha.ines  and  copper,)  borne 
before  thein."  A  discharge  of  pistol-shot  from  tlie  guns 
seatten-d  them,  and  they  lied,  leaving  their  Okee.  Being 
now  ready  to  treat,  their  image  was  restored,  and  beads, 
copper  and  hatchets  were  given  by  Smith  to  their  full 
satisfaction,  in  return  for  provisions. 

The  inij)rovi(lcut  colonists,  by  waste  and  inactivity, 
counteracted  the  ellbrts  of  Snath:  and  Winglield,  the 
former  i)resident,  with  a  number  of  others,  formed  a  plan 
to  seize  llie  pimiace  and  return  to  England.  Tlii.s  con- 
S])iracy  was  not  checked  without  some  violence  and  blo(xl- 
shed.  As  the  weather  grew  colder  with  tlic  change  of 
season,  game  became  fat  and  plenty,  and  the  Indians  on 
Cliickahamania  I'iverwere  fourid  eager  to  trade  their  corn 
for  Kiiglish  articles  of  use  or  ornament;  so  that  all'airs 
began  to  look  moi'e  ]irosperous. 

During  the  ensuing  winter.  Smith,  with  a  barge  and 
boat's  crew,  inidcrtook  an  exploration  of  the  sources  of 
the  Chickahamania,  (Chickahominy,)  Avhich  empties  into 
James'  river,  a  few  miles  above  Jamestown.  After  making 
his  way  for  about  fifty  miles  up  the  stream,  his  progi'i>ss 
was  so  impeded  by  iallen  trees  and  the  narrowness  of  the 
channel,  that  he  left  the  boat  and  crew  in  a  sort  of  bay, 
and  j)roceeded  in  a  canoe,  accompanied  only  by  two  Ktig- 
lishmen,  and  two  Indian  guides.  The  men  left  in  charge 
of  the  boat,  disregarding  his  orders  to  stay  on  board  till 
his  return,  were  set  upon  by  a  great  body  of  the  natives, 
and  one  of  their  iminber,  George  Cassen,  was  taken  pj-is- 


oner, 
intentions 


or  ineir  immuer,  ueorge  L/assen,  was  talcen  pj-i 

Ilaving  compelled   their  captive  to  diseh)se   the 

and  jDosition  of  the  captain,  these  savages  }iro- 


and,  li 
unusiia 
dered 
Deli 
to  the 
and  frie 
king, 
pi'occcc 
scientili 
wild  CI 
astonish 
courage 
ready  t» 
sign  fr( 
where 

Whe 
was  per 


INDIANS  OF  VIRGINIA. 


1D7 


ccedod  to  put  him  to  doath  in  n  most  barbarous  manner, 
sovcriiig  his  limbs  at  the  joints  with  shells,  and  burning 
tlicm  bt'lure  his  liicc.  As  they  dared  not  attack  the  arnu'(l 
company  in  the  boat,  all  hands  then  set  out  in  hot  j)ursuit 
ul'  Smith,  led  by  Opechuneanough,  king  of  I'amaunkco. 

Coming  upon  the  little  party  among  the  marshes,  liir  up 
the  river,  they  shot  the  two  Englishmen  as  they  wei'C 
sleeping  by  the  canoe;  and,  to  the  number  uf  over  two 
hunilred,  surrounded  the  gallant  captain,  who,  accompa- 
nied by  one  of  his  guides,  was  out  with  his  gun  in  search 
of  game.  Binding  the  Indian  fast  to  his  arm,  with  a  gar- 
ter, as  a  j)rotection  from  the  shafts  of  the  enemy,  Smith 
made  such  good  use  of  his  gun  that  he  killed  three  of  his 
assailants  and  wounded  several  uthers.  The  whole  bcdy 
stood  at  some  distance,  stricken  with  terror  at  the  unwonted 
execution  of  his  weapon,  while  he  slowly  retired  towai'ds 
the  canoe.  Uidbrtunately,  attenij)t!ng  to  cross  a  creek 
with  a  miry  bottom,  he  stuck  fast,  together  with  his  guide, 
and,  becoming  benumbed  with  coUl,  lor  the  season  was 
unusually  severe,  ho  threw  away  his  arms,  and  surren- 
dered himself  prisoner. 

Delighted  with  their  acquisition,  the  savages  took  him 
to  the  lire,  and  restored  animation  to  his  bnd)s  by  warmth 
and  friction,  lie  inunediatoly  set  himself  to  conciliate  the 
king,  and  jiresenting  him  with  an  ivory  pocket  com})ass, 
proceeded  to  explain  its  use,  together  with  many  otht-r 
scientific  matters,  greatly  beyond  the  comprehension  of  the 
wild  creatures  who  gathered  around  him  in  eager  and 
astonished  admiration.  Perhaps  with  a  view  of  trying  his 
courage,  they  })resently  bound  him  to  a  tree,  and  all  nuido 
ready  to  let  fly  their  arrows  at  him,  but  were  stayed  by  a 
sign  from  the  chief.  They  then  carried  him  to  Orapaks, 
where  he  was  well  fed,  and  treated  with  kindness. 

^Vhen  they  reached  the  town,  a  strange  savage  dance 
was  performed  around  Opechancanough  and  his  ea])tive. 


-f.',  ,0 


-     ■  ,!■'.  if'  '    " 


1    »..      fir  I'    •,        .'    Kfll 

'  ■  V  v.. ".  '^A 


^>!i.*',:v  ■';•>■■'*''  '^1"  ■.'■.••,1 


;  mm 


ms 


TNHTAX  RACKS  OF  AMKHICA. 


by  tlie  wliolo  hndy  of  wiirriors,  nrmed  and  piiintcd;  whiU^ 
the  women  and  cliildrcn  hiokod  on  with  wonder  and  ciiri- 
ositv.  'IMie  ^'uudy  color  of  the  oil  and  jHK'ones  with  wliieh 
tlu'ir  bodies  wei'e  eovereil,  ''ina(h'  an  exeee(liiiLr  iuuidsoine 
show,"  and  each  had  ''his  bow  in  his  hand,  an<l  the  slsinne 
of  a  bird  with  herwin/^'s  abroad,  dryed,  tyed  on  his  head, 
a  pcecc  of  eoj)j)cr,  a  wiiite  shell,  a  long  featiier,  with  a 
small  rattle  growing  tit  the  taylos  of  their  snakes  tyed  to 
it,  or  some  sueh  like  toy." 

Altliongh  the  Indians  wonhl  not,  as  yet,  eat  with  their 
prisoner,  he  was  so  l'eastt'(l  that  a  sns])ieion  arose  in  his 
iiund  that  they  "  would  (at  him  to  eat.  him.  Yet,  in  this 
desperate  estate,  to  deti'ud  him  rmm  tin-  eold,  oiu^  iMoeas- 
sater.  hronght  him  his  gowne,  in  re(jnitall  of  some  beades 
and  toyes  Smith  had  given  him  at  his  lirst  arrival  in  \'ir- 
ginia."  One  of  the  old  warriors,  whoso  son  liad  been 
woiuuk'd  at  the  time  of  the  eaptnre,  was  with  dillienlty 
restraiiii'd  (Vnm  killing  him.  The  young  Indian  was  at 
his  bust  gasji,  but  Smith,  wishing  to  send  informiitiou  to 
Jamestown,  said  that  he  had  then;  a  medieim-  of  jiotent 
eifect.  '^riie  messengers  sent  on  this  errand  made  their  way 
to  Jamestown,  ''in  as  bitter  weatlier  as  could  be  of  frost 
and  snow,"  carrying  a  note  from  Smith,  written  ujion  ''pait 
of  a  Table  Imoke."  Tliey  reliu"ni>d,  bringing  with  them 
the  articles  reipiested  in  the  letter,  "to  the  wonder  of  all 
that  heanl  it,  that  he  enuld  cither  divine,  or  the  inqier  could 
speake." 

A  plan  was  at  that  time  on  foot  to  rnaki^  an  attack  uj)on 
the  colony,  and  such  rewards  as  were  in  their  power  to  be- 
stow— "life,  liberty,  land  and  women" — were  ))roffered  to 
Smith  by  the  Indians,  if  lie  would  lend  his  assistance. 

They  now  made  a  trinm))hal  progress  with  their  illus- 
trious eai)tive,  among  the  tribes  on  the  i^ai)pahan(jck  and 
Potomac  rivers,  and  elsewhere;  exhibiting  him  to  the 
Youthtanunds,  the  Mattapamients,  the  Payankatanks,  the 


INDIANS  OF  VllWlNIA. 


169 


NiintanfrlitiuMinds,  ami  OiKiwtnniiioiits,  Ifituniin^'  to  Vn- 
iiiaiiiikfc,  a  snk'iiiM  iticantatiDii  was  iicrtliniicil,  with  a 
view  to  ascL'i'tiiiii  liis  real  lrrliiij,',s  towards  tliriii. 

Iliiviiij;  seated  liiiii  mihui  a  mat  hd'oi't'  a  lire,  in  one  of 
tiif  iai',!^;('r  cahiiis,  all  rctiriMi,  "and  iircsciitly  caiiic  skip- 
ping' ill  a  great  grim  IMIow,  all  painte(|  over  witli  coal 
ininiiKMl  with  ovle;  and  many  Snakes  and  Wesels  skin.s 
stutl'ed  with  mosse,  and  all  their  tayles  tied  together,  so  as 
they  met  on  the  erowne  ol'  liis  head  in  a  tassel! ;  an<l  round 
ahont  tlie  tassell  was  a  coronet  of  leathers,  the  skins  hang- 
ing round  aliout  his  head,  liaeke  and  shoulders,  and  in  a 
manner  <'()vered  his  liice;  with  a  hellish  voyco  and  a,  rattlo 
ill  his  hand."  lie  sprinkled  a  eirelo  of  meal  ahout  the 
fire,  and  eonimeneed  his  eonjuration.  Si-Y  more  "such  like 
devils,"  then  (Uitered,  fautastically  In'ilauhed  with  red 
"Mutehatos"  (Mustaches)  marked  upon  their  laces,  and 
liaving  danced  aliout  him  liu-  a  time,  sat  down  and  sang 
a  wild  song  to  the  accompaniment  of  their  rattles. 

The  ehief  eonjiiror  next  laid  down  live  kernels  of  corn, 
and  proeeeiled  to  make  an  extravagant  cu'atioii  with  such 
violence  of  gesture  that  his  veins  swelled  and  th(>  perspi- 
ration started  from  his  body.  "At  the  conclusion  thi'Y 
all  gave  a  short,  groane,  and  then  laiddi)',\n  three  grains 
more."  Th^  oiHU-ation  was  contii.ued  "till  they  had  twice 
incireuled  the  lire,"  and  was  then  varied  by  using  sticks 
instead  of  corn.  All  these  ])erforinauees  had  sonu;  mystic 
signilicatioii,  which  was  in  part  explaimnl  to  the  captain. 

Three  days  were  s]ieut  ui  these  wearisome  barbarities, 
each  day  being  passed  in  listing,  and  the  nights  being  as 
regularly  ushered  in  with  leasts.  Smith  Avas,  after  this, 
entertained  with  the  best  of  ch  'er  at  the  house  of  Oiiitcha- 
pam,  brother  to  the  king,  lie  still  observed  that  not  one 
of  the  men  would  eat  with  him,  but  the  remains  of  the 
feast  were  given  him  to  be  distributed  among  the  women 
and  children. 


■ ,.'  ■'!'  ■sf'9»  **■*,'•  SKI 


'i:'>1l}:th'<j«| 


'    '   ';  '  'J.         ■<       ■  i-  ■  '"'fc 

■  .'  ;'.'f  <• 


..•7 


ii 


■'*.;■.•■!(!'(  L 


.v:;-^-^ 


.  '•  Ji>^i^; '•>■■'"; ;iV,^| 


IGO 


INDIAN   RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


lie  -svas  hero   shown  a  bag  of  gunpowder,   carefully 
preserved  as  seed  against  the  next  planting  season. 


CHAPTER  II. 


COURT  OF  POWHATAN SMITH  S    PUKSKIIVATION  BY  POCAHONTAS 

SUPPLIES  FIJKNISHKD  HY  THE  INDIANS NKWPORT's  AltUlVAL 

smith's  expeditions  up  THE  CHESAPEAKE. 

The  great  inonarcli  of  tlic  country,  Powhatan,  at  this 
pei'iod,  was  liolding  his  court  ut  Werowoconioco,  on  tlie 
left  bank  of  York  ri\er,  and  thither  Smith  was  conveyed 
to  await  the  royal  pleasure.  The  reception  of  so  import- 
ant a  captive  was  conducted  with  suitable  solemnity  and 
parade.  Powhatan  sat  u])on  a  raised  seat  before  a  lire,  in 
a  large  house,  clothed  with  a  robe  of  racoon  skins,  the 
tails  lianging  in  ornamental  array.  He  was  an  old  man, 
about  sixty  years  of  age,  of  noble  figure,  and  that  com- 
manding presence  natural  in  one  born  to  rule  with  undis- 
puted authority  over  all  around  him.  A  }ouug  girl  sat 
on  each  side  of  the  king,  and  marshalled  around  tlu;  room 
were  rows  of  warriors  and  women,  bedecked  with  beads, 
feathers  and  paint. 

Smith's  entrance  was  hailed  by  a  shout;  the  queen  of 
A])i>ainatuck  brought  him  water  to  wash,  and  he  was 
magnificently  entertained,  as  a  distinguished  guest  of  the 
king.  The  strange  scene  which  ensued,  so  replete  with 
pathos  and  poetic  interest,  must  be  given  in  the  simple 
language  of  the  old  historian. 

Having  ended  his  repast,  "a  h)ng  consultation  was  held, 
but  tlie  conclusion  was,  two  great  stones  were  brought 
before  Powliatan:  then  as  many  as  could,  layd  hands  on 
him,  dragged  him  to  thcni,  and  thereon  laid  his  head,  and 


•j-ir 


r^T-s 


:,;lr 


Miv-t 


'Ji''s*;'«'i-:;tf< 


i'"V' 


(-;»*%; 


■■  /', 

;  ',''{    / 

m- 

}'(n  .1  H  U.VJ.1  s    i.vj'  n  i<  r<'s  i.vo    ion    (.ii't.iix  s.vith. 


ii^ 


INDIANS  OF  VIRGINIA. 


161 


being  ready  -witli  their  clubs  to  beatc  out  his  braines,  Po- 
cahontas, tlie  king's  deai'cst  daughter,  when  no  intreaty 
coukl  prevaile,  got  his  head  in  lier  amies,  and  laid  her 
ownc  vi)on  his  to  saue  him  fi'oni  death:  whereat  the  Km- 
]ierour  was  contented  he  should  line  to  make  him  hatchets, 
and  her  bells,  beads  and  cop})er;  for  they  thought  him  as 
well  of  all  occupations  as  themselues." 

The  worthy  captain's  own  rhymes  describe  hit  appear- 
ance and  state  of  mind  at  tliis  crisis: 

"Tliey  s:iy  lie  bore  a  pleasant  sliow,  but  sure  Iiis  heart  was  sad: 
For  wlio  can  pleasant  be  and  rest,  lliat  liuus  in  fear  and  dread?" 

Kntei'taining  his  captive  as  a  privileged  guest,  Powhatan 
now  held  long  consultations  with  hin:,  giving  wonderful 
accounts  of  the  vast  western  country  and  its  inhabitants. 
Smith  responded  with  details,  equally  amazing  to  the  sav- 
age monarch,  of  the  power  and  magnificence  of  the  East. 
After  two  days  of  friendly  intercourse,  Smith  Avas  informed 
that  he  should  return  in  safely  to  Jamestown;  but  as  a 
prelude  to  the  conveyance  of  this  satisfactory  intelligence, 
Powhatan  was  at  much  pains  to  get  up  a  theatrical  sct.-ne 
that  should  iip})ress  or  terrify  his  prisoner.  Left  alone  in 
a  large  c.;.lin,  Smith's  ears  were  saluted  Ity  strange  and 
frightful  ncises  from  behind  a  mat  partition,  and,  inconti- 
nently, Powhatan,  with  some  hundreds  of  attendants,  all 
like  himself  in  hideous  disguises,  made  his  ap}K'araiice. 
lie  appointed  twelve  Indians  to  guide  him  to  the  settle- 
men',  requesting  that  a  grindstone  and  two  great  guns 
sliduld  be  sent  back,  by  thrui,  in  return  for  liberty  ..;ul 
favours  received  at  his  hands. 

Captain  Smith,  well  knt)wing  the  capricious  disposition 
of  his  C!i]itors,  felt  little  seeuritv  or  ease,  until  he  was 
snfely  restored  to  his  eomitanions  at  .Ja'uestown. 

His  absence  had  been  severely  felt:  confusion  and  dis- 
sension were  rife  among  the  inhabitants  of  the  colony,  and 
11 


mi 


■vN 


nsijir  I.. "  "i 


'  'tl 


■  Ik 


l^thi 


162 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AMEBICA. 


the  strong  arm  and  determined  will  of  the  bold  captiin 
were  required  to  keep  order,  and  restrain  those  who  were 
again  inclined  to  elleet  an  escape  in  the  pinnace. 

The  two  guns  (demi-cnlverins),  together  with  a  mill- 
stone, were  l)roiight  out,  and  protlered  to  the  guides;  but, 
seeing  the  terrible  efl'ect  of  a  discharge  of  stones  among 
the  branches  of  an  ice-covered  tree,  the  poor  savages  were 
greatly  terrified,  and  thankfully  accepted  divers  toys  in 
place  of  so  weighty  and  dangerous  a  present. 

So  reduced  were  the  settlers  at  this  time,  that  all  must 
have  jierished  with  starvation  but  for  the  intercourse 
established  by  Smith  between  tlu  lU  and  the  j)eop]e  of 
Powhatan,  h]\'ery  four  or  five  days,  his  noble  and  gener- 
ous little  prtjteetress,  Pocahontas — she  was  then  only  about 
ten  years  of  age — would  make  her  aiijiearance,  a^H'ompa- 
nied  by  attendants  j.xden  with  provisions.  J'iU't  of  tliese 
supplies  eanie  as  ])resents  fi-om  the  king  or  his  daughter; 
.'or  the  rest,  tlie  price  paid  in  toys  and  actii'les  of  use  ^^  as 
left  eutii'ely  at  Smith's  diser  'ton,  ".so  had  he  inchanied 
these  poore  soules.  being  theii  [Jiisoner" 

Cai)tains  Newport  and  Xelson  now  ;U-  "ved  froiu  Eng- 
land, with  two  .^hips,  laden  with  nei'ev-'.'i.ies  and  articles 
of  tradic.  licjoiced  at  the  arrival  oi'  friends  and  ])ri;vi- 
sions,  the  colonists  allowed  the  sailors  to  hold  what  inter- 
course they  pleased  with  tlie  natives,  and  the  consetuient'e 
was  that  the  market  was  soon  spoile(l  by  the  irr(>gu]ai'ity 
of  prices  offered  by  the  English  for  the  Indian  commodi- 
ties. Smith  had  ])os.sessed  Powhatan  and  his  })eo})le  witli 
extravagant  ideas  of  the  powei-  and  majesty  of  Newjiort, 
whose  speedy  arrival  he  })rcdicted,  ami  preparations  were 
now  made  to  give  a  still  moi'c  forcible  impression.  Mes- 
8(!r.ji'rs  were  sent  to  inform  the  Indian  monarch  that  the 
great  ea])tain  of  the  .seas  had  reached  Jamestown,  and 
vould  make  Ji  visit  of  state  to  his  royal  friend  and  ally. 
Tlie  piniiace  was  made  ready  for  this  purpose,  and  "a  great 


coyle 
arrive 
tious. 
Smith 
compn 
creeks 
bridge 
})oscd 
were  t 
Smith 
rcted  a 
! I   against 
\\       All  1 
ceived  1 
I     tliem  h 
J!    .'ind  dar 
I!    .y^'t  di.s( 
\\    Ilis   iijifj 
rcqucsttj 
that  he 
to  give 
•    I'ort  wi.-J 
niuuific'. 
I    tioii,  iu 
ilis  eoril 
Spain." 
canglit 
avarice, 
with  th(| 
of  tlie  .si 
in  the  v,\ 

of  SU(!ll| 

paid  am 
the  gain 
royal  111 


Li-.-rr 


INDIANS  OF  VIRGINIA. 


163 


in 


coyle  thero  Avas  to  set  liim  forward."  When  they  had 
arrived  at  Werowocomoeo,  Newport  was  wary  and  cau- 
tious, fearing  treachery  on  the  part  of  the  savages,  and 
Smith  therefore  volunteered  to  go  forward,  with  a  small 
company,  and  see  that  the  coast  was  clear.  Over  the 
creeks  which  meandered  through  the  mai'shy  country, 
bridges  were  found,  but  of  so  fi-ail  a  structure,  being  com- 
posed of  poles  bound  with  bark,  that  some  suspicions 
were  entertained  that  they  might  be  intended  as  traps. 
Smith  therefore  kept  some  of  the  chief  Indians,  who 
r.cted  as  guitlcp,  in  the  midst  of  his  comj^any,  for  security 
against  attack. 

All  their  suspicion  proved  groundless:  Powhatan  re- 
coivt'd  the  officers  with  tlie  greatest  distinction,  entertained 
tliem  hospitably,  and  cc^lebrated  their  coming  with  feasts 
and  dances.  Tlie  great  king  "carried  himself  so  proudly 
yet  discreetly  (in  his  salvage  manner)  as  made  all  admire 
his  naturall  gifts."  He  declined  any  petty  trallie,  but 
I'equested  Newport  to  bring  forward  at  once  all  the  goods 
tliat  h(>  had  brought  for  trade,  expressing  his  willingness 
to  give  full  return.  His  desire  was  complied  with,  New- 
port wisliintz:  to  outdo  the  king  in  u'enerositv  and  show  of 
munilieenee;  but  the  result  hardly  equalled  his  expecta- 
tion, for  the  cunning  savage,  says  the  narrator,  "valued 
his  come  at  sucli  a  ratt;  that  I  thiidc  it  better  eiieape  in 
Spain."  A  few  blue  beads  in  the  })ossession  of  Smith  now 
cauglit  the  eye  of  Powhatan,  and  aroused  his  eui'iosity  and 
avarice.  The  wary  cat>tain  pretended  to  be  h)th  to  part 
with  them,  as  being  of  a  "  most  rare  substance  of  the  colour 
of  the  skyes,  and  not  to  be  worn  but  by  the  greatest  kings 
in  the  world.  This  ma.de  him  half  madde  to  be  the  owner 
of  such  strange  lewels,"  and,  to  obtain  them,  he  readily 
paid  an  immense  quantity  of  corn,  esteeming  hhnself  still 
the  gainer.  The  trade  in  blue  beads,  after  this,  became  a 
royal  monopoly. 


Uuh    1%  J,     J'  ,        '1 


M-' 


164: 


INDIAN"  RACES   OF   AMERICA. 


Tlie  party  returned  to  Jamestown ;  but  only  to  experi- 
ence greater  privation  and  hardship  than  ever. 

The  town  took  fire,  and  much  of  tlieir  provisions,  cloth- 
ing, find  other  means  of  comfort  wac  destroyed.  The 
wii.ter  was  bitterly  cold,  and  nearly  the  whole  colony, 
together  with  the  crews  of  the  ships,  were  possessed  with 
an  insane  desire  to  search  for  gold,  to  the  neglect  of  the 
labors  necessary  to  secure  health  and  prosp(>rity.  From 
these  causes  )norc  than  half  their  nundier  perished. 

The  Indians,  seeing  their  weakness,  became  insolent  and 
exacting,  and,  but  for  Smith,  whose  prompt  and  energetic 
action,  without  actutd  bloodshed,  subdued  and  brought 
them  to  terms,  they  might  have  completely  overawed, 
and  porhn])s  have  extirpated  the  colony.  Those  whom 
the  English  took  prisoners  insisted  that  the  hostilities 
were  in  af^cordance  with  the  orders  'if  Powhatan:  but 
he,  on  th(»  other  hand,  averred  that  it  was  tin;  work  of 
some  of  his  unruly  subordinates.  The  conciliatory  nu's- 
sage  was  brought  by  "his  dearest  daughter  I'ocahoiitas," 
whose  appearance  ever  had  the  most  potent  inlluence  with 
the  brave  mai  for  whom  she  felt  such  tilial  attachment, 
and  who  ^\as  bound  to  her  by  every  tie  of  gi'atitude  and 
aflection. 

Upon  the  2d  of  June,  1608,  Captain  Smith,  with  four- 
teen companions — one  half  "gcntlemiin,"  the  rest  "sol- 
diers"— undertook  his  celebrated  exploration  of  Chesa- 
peake Bay.    Their  conveyance  was  a  large  open  bai'ge. 

They  lirst  shaped  their  course  for  the  isles  lying  off 
Cape  Charles,  still  known  ixs  Smith's  Isles,  and  thence 
reentered  the  bay.  Passing  Cai)e  Charles,  tlu^y  saw  "two 
grim  and  stout  salvages,"  armed  with  bone-headed  lances, 
wh.)  fc^arlessly  rpiestioned  them  as  to  whence  they  came 
and  whither  they  were  bound.  They  were  subjects  of 
the  Werowance  of  Accomack,  on  tli'-  euHtern  shore  of 
the  bay;    and,    being    Kindly  entreated,   n'S]MMi(lid   with 


li 


equal 
head-q 
The. 

savage 
gave  a 
not  Ion, 
Two  el 
1  case,  ar 
j  phantas 
I  their  dc 
j   the  eye.' 

;     (hough 

ci'owds  I 
sliortlj'  c. 
Tliese 
tallied  S 
and  adv; 
iiig  on  t 
AV^gheoc 


ants  ex 
i  no  harm 
;   to  daiieii 
i   novel  s| 
I   aiidSmi 


ing  aloi 


li 


j  Cuskara\ 

'  along  th 

tluiir  ar 

presse  o 

give  the 

charge  < 

usual  clli 

landing, 

fore  left 

copper  ill 


Ibiir- 
"sol- 


INDIANS  OF  VIRGINIA. 


165 


equal  civility,  and  directcfl  the  English  to  their  king's 
licad-quarters. 

Tliey  found  the  cliicf  to  be  the  "comliest,  proper,  civill 
savage"  that  they  had  ever  held  communion  with.  He 
gave  a  most  singular  account  of  a  pestilence  wliich  had 
not  long  before  carried  off  the  greater  portion  of  his  people. 
Two  children  had  died,  probably  of  some  infectious  dis- 
ease, and  "some  extrcame  passions,  or  dreaming  visions, 
pliantasies,  or  affection  moued  their  parents  againe  to  revisit 
their  dead  carkases,  whose  benummed  bodies  reflected  to 
the  e3'es  of  the  beliolders  such  dclightfull  countenances  as 
though  thoy  had  regained  their  vitall  spirits."  Great 
crowds  gathered  to  see  this  sj;)ectacle,  nearly  all  of  whom, 
shi)rtly  after,  dictl  of  some  unknown  disease. 

'^IMieso  Indians  spoke  the  Powhatan  dialect,  and  cnter- 
taiiicil  Smitli  witli  glowing  descriptions  of  the  beauties 
and  advantages  of  the  bay,  to  the  northward.  Proceed- 
ing on  their  voyage,  the  navigators  entered  hhe  river  of 
^Vighcocomo^'o,  on  the  eastern  shore,  whcj-e  the  inhabit- 
ants exhibited  great  rage  and  liostility,  but  perceiving  that 
IK)  harm  was  intcnd(>d  them,  with  true  savage  caprice,  fell 
to  dancing  and  singing,  in  wonder  and  merriment  at  the 
novel  spectacle.  No  gx)otl  water  was  to  be  obtained  here, 
and  Smith  with  his  crew  made  short  tarrying.  Still  coast- 
ing along  the  eastern  portion  oi'  the  bay,  they  reaehed  the 
Cuskarawaok,  where  great  tn^Of^s  of  savag(?s  followed  them 
along  the  bank,  climlnitg  into  the  trees,  and  discharging 
their  arrows  with  "the  greatest  passion  they  could  ex- 
presse  of  their  anger."  As  the  party  could  not  by  signs 
give  them  to  understand  that  they  came  peacefully,  a  dis- 
charge of  pistol-shot  was  directed,  which  produced  the 
usual  effect,  scattering  the  Indians  in  every  direction.  On 
landing,  not  a  native  could  be  found:  the  English  there- 
fore left  a  few  be-uls,  bells,  looking-glasses,  and  bits  of 
copper  in  the  huts  and  returned  on  board  their  barge. 


'■',  f  f  1 


r:ii 


166 


IXDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERTOA. 


Next  iiiorniii^  tlio  poor  simple  savages,  dismissing  all 
fear,  gatliercd  round  tlieni  to  the  nund)er,  as  appeared,  of 
two  or  three  thousand,  eager  to  offer  whatever  was  in  their 
power  to  bestow  for  "a  little  bead"  or  other  trivial  toy. 
These  people  were  the  Sarapiiiagh,  Nause,  Arseek,  and 
Mantaipiak,  and  they  showed  such  readiness  to  trade,  that 
Smith  pronounced  them  the  "best  marehants  of  all  other 
salvages."  They  gave  wonderful  aeeounts  of  the  jiower- 
ful  and  warlike  Afassawomekes,  who  lived  to  the  noith- 
WJird,  and  were  identical  with  the  Tnxpiois  or  .Six  Nations. 

Some  of  tlie  erew  liilling  sick,  and  the  rest  bee(~>niing 
weary  and  discontented  with  their  unaccustomed  fatigue 
and  exposure,  Smith,  inacli  against  liis  inclination,  turned 
towards  home,  "leaving  the  bay  some  nine  miU's  broad, 
at  nine  and  ten  fadom  water."  Entering  the  Potomac,  on 
the  Kith  of  June,  it  was  determined  to  explore  it,  as  the 
sick  jnen  had  recovered.  No  Indians  were  seen  until  the 
coirfian}-  had  passed  thirty  miles  uj)  the  river;  but,  ar- 
rivin.t  at  a  ci'cek  in  tlie  neighborhood  of  Onawnianimt, 
"tlie  woods  were  layd  witli  andjuseado's,  to  the  number 
of  three  or  fourc  tliousand  salvages,  so  strangely  ])aynted, 
grimed  and  disguised,  shouting,  yelling  and  crying  as  so 
many  spirits  from  hell  eould  not  have  shewed  more  terri- 
ble. Many  brauado's  they  made,"  but  a  discharge  of  bul- 
lets, over  tlie  surface  of  the  water,  (piickly  changetl  their 
mood.  Arms  were  flung  down,  liostages  given,  and  court- 
esy and  kindness  succeeded  the  truculent  demeanor  which 
was  first  exhibited.  ]?y  the  account  of  the  Indians,  Pow- 
hatan had  directed  this  intended  attack;  and,  if  their  ro- 
presentation  was  true,  he  was  stimulated  to  such  a  course 
by  sundry  of  Smith's  enemies  at  Jamestown. 

The  l)oat's  crew  made  their  way  as  fir  up  as  the  river 
was  navigal)le,  encountering  various  other  tribes,  some  of 
whom  were  friendly,  and  others  hostile.  The  thunder  of 
the  English  weapons  never  failed  to  awe  and  subdue  them. 


Eve 
were  i 
stream 
were  ] 
omeke 
Jt  was 
dug  on 
The  111 
then,  ]) 
t()  ])ain 
looke  li 
port  ass 
assayed 
but  all 
On  t 
slioal  wi 
wliich  w 
sw'tu'd  fi| 
conditi 
hut  a  I(. 
I    is  ;i  ni 
:    hi'ai-ilci 
,    wrist  of 
I    and  pai 
brave 
gra^'e  U 
boring 
physic'i: 
nnu'li   f 
supper.' 
As  t| 
judged! 
in  nolalj 
age,  avtl 
from  thi 


INDIANS  OF  VIRGINIA. 


167 


Ever  liaiikoring  after  tlie  proeioiis  metab,  the  adventurers 
were  attracted  by  glittering  particles  in  the  hed  of  various 
streams;  and,  making  it  a  constant  ohjeet  of  inipiiry,  they 
were  led  by  some  Indians,  subject  to  the  king  of  J'ataw- 
omeke,  to  a  noted  mine,  ou  the  little  stream  of  Quiough. 
It  was  on  11  rocky  mount,  and  the  material  sought,  when 
dug  out  with  shells  and  hatchets,  sparkled  like  antimony. 
The  Indians  were  accustomed  to  wash  and  cU^anse  it,  and 
then,  jmtting  it  in  small  bags,  ''sell  it  all  oner  the  country, 
to  ]iaiut  their  bodyes,  faces  or  idolls;  which  made  thciu 
looke  like  Illackamoores  dusted  over  v/ith  siluer."'  New- 
port asserted  that  the  contents  of  soiue  of  those  bags,  when 
assayt'd  in  Kngland,  jn-oved  to  be  exceedingly  rii-li  in  silver; 
but  all  that  Smith  and  his  men  collected  was  worlhh^ss. 

Ou  the  way  towiu'ds  .Jamestown,  as  the  barge  lay  in 
shoal  water,  the  crew  amused  themselves  by  spearing  iish, 
which  were  exceetlingly  plenty.  Ca})tain  ►Smith,  using  his 
sword  for  this  purpose,  drew  up  a  fish,  ("not  knowing  her 
concbtion,)  bi'iiig  much  of  the  fashion  of  a  'riiornbaek, 
but  a  long  tayh;  like  a  riding  roddc,  whereou  the  nuddest 
is  a  most  poysoned  sting,  of  two  or  three  inches  long, 
bearded  like  a  saw  on  each  side,  which  she  struck  into  the 
wrist  of  his  arme  neare  an  inch  and  a  halfe."  The  swelling 
and  pain  consequent  upon  this,  were  so  great  that  the 
lu'ave  captain,  despairing  of  recovery,  oi'dered  his  own 
grave  to  be  dug;  which  Avas  accordingly  done  on  a  neigh- 
boring island.  His  time,  howi'ver,  liad  not  yet  come:  the 
physician  of  the  i»arty  succeeded  in  relieving  him,  inso- 
much that,  that  ver}'-  night  "hee  ate  of  the  fish  to  his 
su]iper." 

As  they  returned  to  their  old  cpiarters,  tlie  Indians 
judged  from  their  a})pcarance  that  they  had  been  engaged 
in  notable  wars;  an  idea  which  tliey  fliikxi  not  to  encour- 
age, averring  that  all  the  spoil  brought  home  was  taken 
fjom  the  redoubtable  Massawomekes. 


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INDIAN  JJACEri  OF  AMERICA. 


At  Jamestown  all  was  found  in  di.soriler  and  misery,  as 
was  f^ciK'vally  the  ease  when  the  master-spirit  was  absent. 
Thus  ended  the  first  exi)loration  of  the  unknown  waters 
oC  the  Chesa})eake,  leaving  the  blnglish  still  in  doubt  as 
to  its  extent,  and  still  hopeful  of  eventually  tiudiug  a  pass- 
age thereby  to  the  South  Seas  I 

On  the  2-J:th  of  July,  a  seeond  expedition  was  undertaken 
up  the  bay,  by  Smith,  with  a  boat's  crew  of  twelve  men. 
The  Indians  of  Keeoughtan,  v.ilh  whom  they  spent  several 
days,  exulted  greatly  in  the  su})i)osition  that  the  Knglish 
were  out  on  a  war  expedition  against  their  dreaded  ene- 
mies, the  Massawonii'kes. 

Troeeeding  up  the  bay,  niore  than  half  the  party  were 
{ii'ostrated  by  the  diseases  of  the  elimate,  and  in  this  erip- 
pl(>d  eonditiou  they  eame  upon  seven  or  eight  eanoes, 
tilled  with  Imiians  of  the  warlike  tribe  they  were  supposed 
to  be  in  seareh  of  Seeing  that  the  English  showed  no 
I'eai',  but  prepared  briskly  for  an  engagement,  these  Mas- 
sawomekes  eoneluded  that  discretion  was  the  better  part 
of  valor,  and  fled  to  the  shore.  .15eiug  tempted  by  the 
jifer  of  some  trilling  ten's,  they  at  last  came  out  to  the 
barge  unarmed,  bringing  presents  of  provisions,  targets, 
skins,  and  rude  imijlements  of  warfare.  They  had  been 
engaged  in  war  witli  ihe  Indians  of  the  Toekwogh  or 
Sassafras  river,  as  their  fresh  wounds  bore  witness. 

They  disai)peared  during  the  following  night,  and  the 
explorers  made  their  way  into  the  river  of  Toekwogh. 
Seeing  the  Massawomeke  weapons,  the  Toekwoghs  were 
in  eestasy,  supposing  that  their  enemies  had  been  defeated; 
and  led  Smith  up  tu  their  i'ortilied  town:  "Men,  women, 
and  children,  with  daunees,  songs,  fruit,  furres,  and  what 
they  had,  stretching  their  best  abilities  to  expresse  their 
loues." 

lL3re  Smith  made  some  stay,  sending  messengers  to 
invite  a  deputation  from  the  renowned  Sasquesahanocks 


INDIANS  OK  VIUOINIA. 


169 


to  visit  liiin.  Sixty  of  "iIioho  irynnt-liko  in'oplo,"  nccord- 
iiifrly  Clinic  down  I'roia  tlioir  country,  l)riii;^iiij(  presents, 
and  liolding  bold  and  liuniliiir  intercourse  with  the  stran- 
gers. I'he  daily  devotional  exercises  of  prayers  and  psalms, 
wliich  our  pious  Captain  regularly  observed,  Avero  re- 
s[)onded  to,  on  the  part  of  the  wondering  savages,  by 
strange  ceremonies  of  their  own. 

"Tlu'y  began  in  a  most  jtassionate  manner,  to  hold  vp 
their  hands  to  the  Suniie,  with  a  nujst  feareful  song,  then 
iinbracing  our  captaine,  they  began  to  adore  him  in  like 
manner:  though  he  rebuked  them,  yet  they  proccedtnl  till 
their  song  was  ilnished:  which  done,  with  a  most  strange 
iurioiirf  action,  and  a  hellish  voyce,  began  an  oration  of 
their  loues." 

They  then  clothed  him  Avith  rich  skins  and  mantles,  and 
})roll:ering  beads  and  toys,  declared  that  they,  and  all  they 
liad,  were  at  his  service,  if  he  avouUI  but  lend  his  assistance 
against  the  terrible  ^fassawomekcs. 

lieturning  to  exaiuine  the  river  Ka})ahanock,  Smith  fell 
in  with  a  former  accpuiintance,  one  Mosco,  of  Wighcoco- 
nioco.  lie  was  doubtless  a  half-breed,  and  was  supposed 
to  be  some  Frenchman's  son,  as  he  rejoiced  in  the  distin- 
guishing mark  of  a  "thicke,  black,  bush  beard,  and  the 
Salvages  seldome  haue  any  at  all." 

The  English  fortilled  their  boat  by  making  a  breast- 
work around  the  gun-Avale,  of  the  Massawomeke  shields, 
which  were  so  thickly  plated  as  to  resist  the  arrows  of  the 
savages.  This  stood  them  in  good  stead  in  divers  skir- 
mishes wilh  the  Rapahanocks.  On  one  occasion,  thirty  or 
forty  of  that  tribe  so  disguised  themselves  with  bushes 
and  branches,  that,  as  they  stood  discharging  their  arrows 
upon  the  edge  of  the  river,  the  English  supposed  their 
array  to  be  a  natural  growth  of  slu'ubs. 

Mosco  accompanied  Smith  in  his  visits  to  many  nations 
on  the  Chesapeake,  and  proved  of  no  little  service,  whether 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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170 


INDIAX  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


I''*,''".,  ■ 


the  reception  at  tlieir  hands  was  friendly  or  hostile.  The 
good  will  of  <i  party  of  ^fanahocks  was  gained  by  means 
of  i'avor  shown  to  a  wonnded  prisoner,  whom  Mosco  Avould 
fain  have  dispatched— "never  was  dog  more  furious 
against  a  beare,  than  Mosco  was  to  have  beat  out  his 
braines."  They  questioned  this  captive,  who  was  called 
Amoi'ulock,  about  iiis  own  and  the  adjoining  tribes,  and 
demanded  of  him  why  his  2)eo2:)le  had  attacked  peaceful 
straugers.  "The  poore  salvage  mildly  answered,"  that 
tluy  had  heard  that  the  English  were  "a  people  f^omc 
from  under  the  world  to  take  their  world  froiri  them." 
He  described  the  !N[onacans  as  friendly  to  his  ti'ibe,  and 
said  that  they  lived  in  the  mountainous  country  to  the 
west,  "by  small  rivers,  lining  upon  rootes  and  fruits,  but 
chiefly  by  hunting.  The  Massawomeks  did  dwell  vpon  a 
great  water,  and  had  many  boats,  and  so  many  men  that 
they  made  warre  with  all  the  woi'ld." 

In  this,  and  the  preceding  voyage,  the  whole  of  the 
extensive  bay  of  Chesapeake,  was  explon>d,  together  with 
the  lower  portions  of  the  principal  rivers  emptying  into 
it;  and  an  accurate  chart  of  the  whole  country  still  bears 
witness  to  the  skill  and  perseverance  of  tlie  brave  com- 
jnander.  Curious  sketches  of  native  chiefs,  and  of  en- 
counters between  them  and  the  J^^nglish,  accom]»any  the 
maps  which  illustrate  the  quaint  and  interesting  narrative 
from  which  this  porti()n  of  our  history  is  drawn. 

Before  returning  to  Jamestown,  the  party  sailed  for  the 
southern  shores,  and  passed  up  the  Elizabetli  river  into 
the  "Chisaiteack"  country.  T'ley  saw  but  few  dwellings, 
surrounded  by  garden  plots,  but  were  struck  with  tlie 
magnificent  growth  of  pines  which  lined  the  bardcs.  Thence 
coasting  along  the  shore,  they  came  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Nandsanuuid,  where  a  few  Indians  were  engaged  in  fish- 
ing. Thes!',  lied  in  aflriglit,  but  the  English  landing,  and 
leaving  some  attractive  trilles  where  they  would  find  them. 


mcr 


INDIANS  OF  VIKGINIA. 


171 


their  demeanor  was  soon  clianged.  Singing  and  dancing, 
tlicy  invited  tlie  party  to  enter  tlie  river,  and  one  of  them 
came  on  board  the  barge.  Complying  with  the  request, 
Smith  went  up  the  stream  seven  or  eight  miles,  when  exten- 
sive corn  fields  were  seen.  Perceiving  some  signs  of  treach- 
ery, he  would  not  proceed  fiirther,  but  endeavored  to  regain 
the  open  water  with  all  possible  expedition.  His  fears 
proved  to  be  well  grounded ;  for  on  the  way  down,  arrows 
were  poured  into  the  boat  from  either  side  of  the  river  by 
hundreds  of  Indians,  while  seven  or  eight  canoes  filled 
with  armed  men  followed  "to  see  the  ccuclusion."  Turn- 
ing u2:)on  these,  the  English,  by  a  volley  from  their  mus- 
kets, soon  drove  the  savages  on  shore  and  seized  the  canoes. 
The  Indians,  seeing  their  invaluable  canoes  in  the  ene- 
mies' power,  to  save  them  from  destruction  readily  laid 
down  their  arms;  and,  ujjon  further  communication,  agreed 
to  deliver  up  their  king's  bow  and  arrows,  and  to  furnish 
four  hundred  baskets  of  corn  to  avert  the  threatened 
vengeance  of  the  terrible  strangers. 


CHAPTER  III. 

CORONATION    OF    POWHATAN SMITh's    VISIT    TO    WEKOWOCOMOCO 

FOR  SUPPLIES — TREACHERY    OF  POWHATAN SMITH  A  SECOND 

TIME  PRESERVED  BY  POCAHONTAS VISIT  TO  PAMUNKY 

FIGHT  V.'IT:I  THE  KING  OF  PASPAHEGH — ASCENDANCY 
OF    THE    ENGLISH. 

In  the  ensuing  September,  Smith  was  formally  made 
president  of  the  colony  at  JaiiiestoAvn,  and  set  himself 
promptly  to  correct  abuses  and  perfect  the  company  in 
the  military  exercises  so  suited  to  his  own  inclinations, 
and  so  essential  in  their  isolated  and  dangerous  position. 


!^> ' ;  '1 


/•^' 


:.'ti<    ';■■■ 


172 


INDIAN  KAC^ES  OF  AMERICA. 


TLe  Avandcring  savagi-.s  would  collect  in  astonisliment  to 
see  these  perfonnaiu'cs,  standing  "in  amazement  to  Lohnld 
liow  a  lyie  would  batter  a  tree,  where  he  would  make  them 
a  marke  to  shoot  at." 

Newpoi't,  soon  after,  made  his  appearance,  bringing  out 
from  England  many  adventurers  ill-suited  to  the  life  before 
them  in  the  new  country :  "thirty  carpenters,  husband- 
men, gardiners,  llshermeu,  blacksmiths,  masons,  and  dig- 
gers vp  of  trees'  roots,"  says  Smith,  would  have  been 
worth  a  thousand  of  them.  By  the  same  arrival,  came  a 
lai'gc  boat,  brought  out  in  live  pieces,  to  be  used  in  further 
explorations  in  search  of  the  South  Sea,  and  a  crown,  Avith 
brilliant  trapj»ings  and  regalia  for  the  solenm  coronation 
of  I'owhatan.  Smith  speaks  with  great  contempt  of  this 
transaction:  the  "costly  novelties  had  becne  much  better 
well  spared  than  so  ill-spent,"  for  they  had  the  king's  "fa- 
vour nnich  better  only  for  a  plaync  peece  of  Co])per,  till 
this  stately  kind  of  soliciting  made  him  so  much  overvalue 
himself  that  he  respected  vs  as  much  as  nothing  at  all." 

'i'he  captain,  with  four  companions,  volunteered  to  go  to 
Werowocomoco,  and  invito  Powhatan  to  come  to  James- 
town and  receive  his  i^resents.  Arriving  at  the  village, 
they  found  that  the  chief  was  thirty  miles  away  IVoni 
home;  but  a  messenger  Avas  disj)atched  fur  him,  and, 
meanwhile,  his  daughter  Pocahontas  exerted  herself,  to  thu 
best  of  her  ability,  to  di\'ert  and  entertain  her  guests. 
This  Avas  done  after  a  strange  fashion.  A  masquerade  dance 
of  sonie  thirty  yoi;ng  Avoraen,  nearly  naked,  Avas  uslu'red 
in  by  such  a  "hydeous  noise  and  shrieking,"  that  the  Kng* 
lish  seized  on  some  old  men  who  stood  by,  as  hostages, 
thinking  that  treachery  was  intended.  They  Avere  relieved 
from  apprehension  by  the  assurances  of  Pocahontas,  and 
the  pageant  proceeded.  The  Icsader  of  the  dance  Avas  decked 
Avith  a  "fayre  paire  of  T)uck's  homes  on  her  head,  and  aa 
Otter's  skinne  at  her  girdle."     The  others  Averc  also  horned, 


and  pai 
devises, 
rushing 
about  th 
variety.' 
AV'igAvam 
CA^er  Avit] 
tediouslj 
Upon 
Jamestoi 
a  king; 
round  to 
nmst  luiA 
Avere  bro 
ture  set  \ 
put  on  hi 
not  hurt 
kneele  tt 
nuiiesty  r 
endured 
as  tyred 
ers,  he  a 
their  ban 
pistoll  th 
that  the 
Avas  AVcll. 
After  t 
made  soi 
among  th 
mines  of 
tions  and 
The  In 
hatan  see 
the  colon 
in  enforci 


INDIANS  OF  VIRGINIA. 


173 


nt  to 

tlicra 

ig  out 
acforc 
ibiind- 
1  dig- 
been 
:ame  a 
iirtlier 
1,  with 
nation 
jf  this    i 
better    I 

J  rf  Jil- 

icr,  till 

rvalue    i 

all." 

o  go  to 

tlaiiics- 

ilhige, 

IVoni 

,   and, 

to  the 

glU'StS. 

.)  dance 
IS  he  red 
ic  Kng- 
•stages, 
lieved 
as,  and 
deeked 
and  an 
liorncd, 


and  painted  and  equipped,  "every  one  with  their  severall 
devises.  These  fiends  with  most  hellish  shouts  and  crycs, 
ruslung  from  among  the  trees,  cast  thernselues  in  a  ring 
about  the  fire,  singing  and  daimcing  with  most  excellent  ill- 
variety."  Afterwards,  when  Sniitli  had  entered  one  of  their 
Avigwams,  "all  these  Nym})hs  more  tormented  him  than 
ever  with  crowding,  pressing  and  hanging  about  him,  most 
tediously  crying,  Love  you  not  me?  love  you  not  me?" 

Upon  Powhatan's  return,  he  proudly  refused  to  go  to 
Jamestown  for  his  presents,  standing  upon  his  dignity  as 
a  king;  and  the  robes  and  trinkets  were  accordingly  sent 
round  to  Werowocomoco  by  water.  TJjc  coronation  scene 
nmst  have  been  ludicrous  in  the  extreme:  "the  presents 
were  brought  him,  his  Bason  and  Ewer,  Bed  and  furni- 
ture set  vp,  liis  scai'let  cloke  and  apparcll  with  much  adoe 
put  on  him,  being  persuaded  by  Namontaclc,  they  would 
not  hui't  him:  but  a  Ibule  trouble  there  was  to  make  him 
kneele  to  receiue  his  Crownc,  he  neither  knowing  the 
niaiesty  nor  meaning  of  a  crown,  nor  bending  of  the  knee, 
endured  so  many  perswasions.  examples  and  instructions 
as  tyred  them  all ;  at  last,  b}'  leaning  hard  on  his  should- 
ers, he  a  little  stoojied,  and  three  having  the  crowne  in 
their  hands,  put  it  on  his  head,  when,  by  tlie  warning  of  a 
pistol!  the  Boats  were  prepared  with  such  a  volley  of  shut, 
that  the  King  start  vp  with  a  horrible  feare  till  he  saw  all 
was  well." 

After  this,  Newport,  with  one  hundred  and  twenty  men, 
made  some  unimportant  explorations,  above  the  falls, 
among  the  Monacans.  Their  continual  greedy  search  for 
mines  of  the  precious  metals  interfered  with  useful  opera- 
tions and  discoveries. 

The  Indians  now  became  unwilling  to  trade,  and  Pow- 
hatan seemed  to  have  ad<j])ted  the  policy  of  starving  out 
the  colony.  We  can  hardly  justify  the  course  of  Smith 
in  enforcing  supplies,  on  any  other  plea  than  that  of  no- 


^         ^^- 


17-i 


INDIAN"  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


cessity ;  but  certain  it  is,  that  ho  alone  seemed  to  have  that 
power  and  infkience  over  the  simple  savages  Avhich  could 
secure  at  once  their  love  and  fear. 

Powhatim  having  at  last  agreed  to  furnish  a  ship-load 
of  corn,  if  the  English  would  build  him  a  house,  and  fur- 
nish him  with  a  grindstone,  a  cock  and  hen,  sonac  arms, 
copper  and  beads,  five  men  were  sent  to  AVerowocomoco 
to  commence  operations.     Three  of  these  were  Dutchmen. 

To  carry  out  tliis  contract,  and  procure  the  promis(>d 
corn.  Smith  started  for  the  camp  of  Powhatan  towards  the 
last  of  l")ocembcr,  (1008,)  accom})anicd  by  twenty-seven 
men  in  tlic  barge  and  pinnace,  while  a  number  of  others 
crossed  the  country  to  build  the  proposed  house.  At  War- 
raskoyaelc,  the  friendly  king  cautioned  him  against  b'jiiig 
deceived  by  Powhatan's  ex[)ressions  of  hinduess,  insisting 
that  treachery  was  intended, 

Christmas  was  spent  by  tlic  party  at  Kecoughtan,  on  the 
left  bank  of  James'  river,  near  its  mouth;  and  meriy  cheer 
was  made  upon  game  and  oysters.  Tlwy  reached  Wero- 
wocomoco  on  the  12th  of.lanuarv,  and  landed  with  much 
dinicultv,  as  the  nver  was  bordered  with  ice,  to  break 
through  wliich  they  Avere  obliged  to  wade  waist-deej>,  "a 
llight-shot  through  this  muddy  fro/en  oase." 

Powhatan  gave  them  venison  and  turkies  for  their 
immediate  use,  but  Avhen  the  subject  of  the  corn  was 
broached,  he  protested  that  he  and  his  pe()[)le  had  little  or 
none,  and  (leman(le(l  forty  swords  in  case  he  should  ))ro- 
cure  forty  baskets.  Smith  rejjlied  .sternly,  upbraiding  hini 
for  duplicity  and  faithlessness,  and  cautioning  him  not  to 
provoke  ho.stilitics  where  friendship  only  was  intended. 
The  wily  chief,  on  the  other  hand,  made  many  dei)recatory 
speeches,  continually  urging  Stnith  to  direct  his  men  to 
lay  down  their  arms,  that  the  conference  should  appear  to 
be  peaceful,  and  the  Indians  feel  at  case  and  in  safety, 
while  bringing  in  their  corn. 


Jiv  ■■  ■•»s^  • 


INDIANS  OP  VIRGINIA. 


175 


After  much  bargaining  and  haggling,  a  small  quantity 
of  corn  was  j)rocured,  and  Powhatan  made  a  most  ])lau.si- 
blc  and  characteristic  speech  to  persuade  Smith  that  noth- 
ing could  be  farther  from  his  intention  thiui  hostility.  Can 
you  suppose,  said  he,  that  I,  a  man  of  age  and  ex[)erience, 
having  outlived  three  generations  of  my  people,  shoiUd 
be  "so  simple  as  not  to  know  it  is  better  to  eatc  good 
meate,  lye  well  and  slecpe  (piietly  with  my  wtjmen  and 
children,  hiugh  and  be  merry  with  you,  liaue  copper, 
liatchets,  or  what  I  want  being  your  friend:  than  be  forced 
to  flic  from  all,  to  lie  cold  in  the  woods,  feede  vpon  acornes, 
rootes,  and  such  trash,  and  be  so  hunted  by  you  that  1  can 
neither  rest,  eatc  nor  slcepe;  but  my  tyred  men  must 
watch,  and  if  a  twig  but  breake,  every  one  ciycth,  there 
commeth  ('ii])taine  Smith." 

'I'lius  the  time  was  s[)ent  in  useless  discourse,  and  Smith, 
perceiving  th;,t  tlu;  Indians  were  oidy  watching  Ibr  an 
oi)poi'lunity  to  attack  him  unawiircs,  onlcri'd  tlu;  barge  to 
he  brought  to  shoi'c,  and  the  ])ittanc('  of  coi'n  to  be  stowed 
on  board.  Powhatan  then  disappean'd,  but  immediately 
sent  his  warriors  to  surround  the  house  and  cut  oil"  Smith 
whil(>  the  body  of  the  English  were  engaged  with  tin;  barge. 

Aided  only  l)y  one  com[)anion,  the  valiant  caiitain  rushed 
forth,  "with  his  ])istoll,  sword  and  target,"  and  "made 
such  a  ])assage  among  these  naked  Diuels,  that,  at  his  hrst 
shoot,  they  lu'xt  him  tundtled  one  oner  another."  Seeing 
tliat  Smitii  had  rejoined  his  company,  Powhatan  pretended 
that  he  had  sent  his  people  to  guard  the  corn  from  being 
stolen,  and  renewed  his  protestations  of  friendship. 

Tlu!  boats  being  left  ashore  by  the  tide,  the  cajitain  was 
obligcvl  to  spend  the  night  on  shore.  Powhatan  now  con- 
ceivc(l  himsc'lf  sure  of  his  victims,  and  gathered  all  his 
people,  with  the  intention  of  surprising  Smith  undercover 
of  the  night.  "Notwithstanding  tlie  eternal  all-si'cing 
God  di.d  preuent  him,  and  by  a  strange  mcanes.     P'or  Poca- 


I 


III 

1'  "! ! 


':k-f'  <>';';•■';'!  «;''S<n4 


'■•;M 


176 


INDIAN   RACu,S  OF  AMERICA. 


hontas,  liis  dearest  iewcll  and  diingliter,  in  tliat  darkc  ni,<r1it 
came  tlirongh  tlic  irksome  woods,  and  told  our  Caj)tainc 
greatc  elicuro  sliould  be  sent  vs  by  and  by;  but  Powliataii 
and  all  the  ])owcr  he  could  make,  would  after  come  and 
kill  vs  all,  if  they  that  l)r()Ught  it  could  not  kill  vs  with 
ourc  owiic  weapons  when  we  were  at  su])per.  Thereibre 
if  we  would  line,  she  wished  vs  j)resently  to  be  gone. 
Such  things  as  she  delighted  in  he  would  have  giuen  her; 
but  with  tlic  teares  running  downc  lier  clicckes,  she  said 
she  durst  not  bo  seen  to  hauc  any;  for  if  Powhatan  should 
know  it  she  were  but  dead,  and  so  she  rannc  away  by  her- 
selfe  as  she  came." 

One  can  readily  imagine  the  distress  of  the  poor  child 
at  feeling  thus  compelled,  by  her  aftectiou  for  her  English 
friend,  to  become  unfaithful  to  her  father  and  her  own 
people. 

The  feast  was  sent  in  shortly  afttM',  ly  a  number  of 
strong  warriors,  who  were  very  earnest  in  their  invitation 
to  the  party  to  lay  down  their  arms  and  fall  to.  ^J'he 
matches  which  the  English  kept  burning  met  with  their 
decided  disapproval,  tiic  smoke,  as  they  averred,  making 
them  sick.  Smith,  being  Ibrcwarned,  did  not  fail  to  s]Knid 
the  night  in  vigilance,  and  sent  word  to  Powhatan  that  he 
felt  well  convinced  of  his  villanous  intentions,  and  should 
be  prepared  for  him.  The  Dutchmen,  who  were  with  the 
king,  were  all  along  supposed  to  be  implicated  in  his  treach- 
ery, being  inimical  to  Smith,  and  glad  of  an  opportunity  to 
destroy  him.  After  his  departure  from  AVcrowocomoco, 
two  of  them  hastened  to  Jamestown,  and,  by  various  pre- 
tences, obtained  a  quantity  of  arn.is,  which,  with  the  assist- 
ance of  some  Indian  companions,  they  canied  olY  to  Pow- 
hatan. In  return  for  this  assistance,  he  promised  them 
imnmnity  from  the  havoc  that  should  overtake  the  colonv, 
and  high  oflice  and  power  in  his  own  service. 

Continuing  his  t-^arch  i'or  provision,  Smith  arrived  at 


INDIANS   OF  VIRGINIA. 


177 


ramunky,  wliorc  Opccliinicancnigli  received  liim  with  ap- 
parent kiudiK'ss,  but  siiowetl  no  readiness  to  trade.  .Smith 
roniinded  him  of  Cornier  promises  and  injuries,  and  ex- 
pressed a  determination  to  obtain  suj)plies;  profl'ering  just 
j)aynient.  'J'hc  chief  managed  to  decoy  the  cajitaiu  and 
his  "okl  tifteene"  into  his  liouse,  exhibiting  some  baskets 
of  corn,  wliich  he  alleged  were  procured  with  great  diiTi- 
eidty,  but  in  the  meantime  some  seven  hundred  armed 
warriors,  by  his  orders,  surrounded  the  building. 

Our  brave  captain,  first  exhorting  his  men  to  show  no 
signs  of  fear,  now  steridy  addressed  the  king,  challenging 
him  to  single  combat,  with  equal  arms,  upon  an  island  in 
the  river.  Opeehaneanough  still  j)retended  good  will  and 
IViendsiiip,  ;ind  attempted  to  entice  Smith  out  at  the  door, 
by  promises  of  nninifieent  ])resents:  "the  bait  was  guarded 
with  at  least  two  hundred  men,  and  thirty  lying  VTuler  a 
great  tree  (that  lay  thwart,  as  a  barricado)  each  his  arrow 
Hockcd  ready  to  shoot." 

Smith,  pereiMving  that  prompt  action  was  now  necessary, 
sprang  uj)on  the  king,  and,  holding  him  )y  the  fore-lock 
with  one  hand,  while,  with  the  other,  he  held  a  cocked 
))istol  to  his  breast,  he  led  him  furth  among  his  people. 
Opeehaneanough,  completely  cowed,  delivered  up  his  arms, 
and  all  his  warriors,  amazed  at  the  Englishnuurs  audacity, 
laid  theirs  upon  the  ground. 

Still  keej)ing  hold  of  the  chief's  hair.  Smith  made  a  brief 
oration,  threatening  teri'ible  vengeance  if  a  drop  of  Eng- 
lish blood  should  be  spilt,  and  declaring  that  if  they  would 
not  sell  him  corn  he  would  freight  his  ship  with  their  car- 
casses, lie  promised,  moreover,  continued  friendslii[»  j'" 
no  further  (tausc  lor  com]>]nint  were  given.  All  now  made 
friendly  protestations,  and  l)rought  in  abundance  of  pro- 
vision; but,  as  Smith  lay  down  to  recruit  himself  with  a 
little  sleep,  a  great  number  of  the  savages  rushed  in  to 
overpower  him.  This  attack  was  repelled  as  successfully 
12 


173 


INDIAX  RACES  OF  AMKUICA. 


and  jti'diiiptly  iis  tlic  lirst.  l^ho  king  in  a  Icnytliy  speech 
excused  and  cxplaiiicd  tlic  movement,  and  the  day  ended 
in  pcacelld  ti'inlf  und  barter. 

At  this  time  iirrivcd  one  Richard  Wyfhn,  wlio  had  ven- 
turously niiide  his  way  alone  throii.Lili  tin;  wil(U'rness  to 
announce  to  Smith  a  great  h)ss  whicli  the  colony  had  met 
■with  in  the  death  of  (losnoll  and  eight  ct)mpanions.  They 
had  started  in  a  skill"  for  tli(>  Jsle  of  Hogs,  and  were  upset 
by  a  gale  "(that  extreame  frozen  time)"  and  drowncil. 
AVydinhad  stopped  at  Towhatan's  head-((uarlers,  and  only 
escaped  (l(>stnictiou  by  tiie  kindness  of  the  JMiglishman's  fast 
iVicnd  I'ocahontas.  She  "hid  him  lor  a  time,  and  sent  them 
who  pui'sucil  liiiii  the  clvanc!  contrary  way  to  set'ke  him." 

Concealing  this  (hsastrous  inttdligciici,  from  his  Cul low- 
ers, Cajitain  Smith  set  Dpechaneanough  at  liberty,  an(l 
again  embiirkcil,  intending,  ere  his  return  to  Jamestown, 
to  secure  the  person  oC  Powhatan,  'i'liat  chief  had  issued 
general  orders  for  the  destruction  of  Smith,  and  everv 
where,  ;is  the  boat  passed  along  tlie  river  bank,  crowds  of 
Indians  would  appeal',  bringing  corn  in  baskets,  and  oHIt- 
ing  it  to  the  conipany  if  they  would  come  Ibr  it  unarmed. 
Tiieir  intention  was  evidently  to  draw  the  Knglish  into  an 
arhbuscade.  The  captain  sueceedeil  in  sur()rising  one  of 
tliese  parties,  and  olitaining  their  provision. 

Some  of  them,  who  consented  to  ti'ad(\  supplied  the 
]Onglisli  with  poisone(l  food,  which  was  eaten  bv  Smi'ili 
and  others,  but  the  ])oison  did  not  ])rove  sulhciently  potent 
to  destroy  their  lives.  Suspicion  (ell  upon  a  vigonMjs 
young  warrior  named  Wecuttanow,  as  the  author  of  this 
treachery;  but  he,  having  li)rty  or  lifty  companions  with 
him,  "so  proudly  braueil  it  as  though  he  cxj)ecte(I  to  in- 
counter  a  revenge. — Which  the  President  (Smith)  ])erceiv- 
ing  in  the  midst  of  his  company,  did  not  onely  beate,  but 
spurned  him  like  a  dogge,  as  scorning  to  doe  him  any 
worse  mischiefe." 


:■,■*■ 


aim 


INDIANS' OF  VIUfllNIA. 


179 


At  other  pliicos  wIrtc  {irovision  Wiis  soiiglit,  it  \va.s  pUiiii 
that  tlu'.  Indians  wore  tlicinsclvcs  in  want,  and  "imparted 
that  little  they  had  with  sueh  e(»ni[)laints  and  tears  from 
the  eyes  of  women  and  ehildren  as  hr,  hadboeno  toocruell 
to  hane  becne  a  Christian  that  wouKl  not  hauo  bceno  satis- 
lied  and  inone<l  with  ('(_)mpassion," 

I'owhatan,  eantioned  by  "those  damned  Dutehmen," 
had  left  Werowoeonioeo,  witli  all  his  ofT'eets,  before  Smith 
arrived  there,  and  tlie  plan  oC  makinir  him  prisoner  was 
therefore  abandoned.  Here  Smith  breaks  ont  into  a  spirited 
Jiistilieation  of  his  concbiet  and  pnr[)oses,  eomplaining'  tliat 
limit  had  been  found  with  liim,  by  some,  for  ernelty  and 
liai'shni'ss,  and  by  otjiei's  for  want  of  enerj^y  ami  determin- 
;iliiin.  lie  draws  a  stront^  eon  trust  betwi'en  the  proececl- 
ings  of  the  Kn<^lish  colony  and  tiie  manner  in  whirh  the 
Spaniards  nsnally  followed  \i\)  tlieir  discoveries.  It  was 
not  pk'asing,  he  says,  lo  some,  that  he  had  temi)orized  with 
sueh  a  ti'eaeherous  j)eoj)le,  and  "that  he  washed  not  the 
frronnd  with  their  tiK)uds,  nor  showed  such  strange  inven- 
tions in  mangling,  murdering,  ransacking,  and  destroying, 
(as  did  the  Spanyards,)  the  simple  bodies  of  sueh  igncjrant 
soules." 

'fhe  renegade  Dutehmen  had  a  jilaee  of  rendezvous  near 
JMnH\stown,  known  as  the  "glasse  house,"  Avhith(!r  they 
resorted,  with  their  Indian  associates,  toeai'ry  on  their  sys- 
tem of  piU'ering  arms  and  other  articles  from  the  eolonv. 
Captain  Smith  making  a  visit  to  this  sj»ot,  with  the  inten- 
tion of  arresting  one  of  them,  named  Frani-is,  whoni  he 
had  heard  to  be  tluTC,  was  set  uj)on,  as  he  ri'turned  alone, 
by  the  king  of  l'aspah(>gh,  "a  most  strong  .stout  salvage," 
and  a  terrible  personal  encounter  ensued.  The  Indian 
closed  upon  him,  so  that  he  could  make  no  use  of  his  fal- 
cliiini,  and,  by  sheer  strength,  dragged  him  into  the  river. 
vVfter  a  desperate  struggle,  Smith  suecec^ded  in  grasping  the 
Favagc  by  the  throat,  and  in  drawing  his  weapon.    "  Seeing 


''■W'f^^  Hun 


<wv:^  m 


:■     ■-'         *t     ■■-         m)TM 


180 


INDIAN  UACKrt  OF  AM KUU." A. 


hosv  pitifully  lio  l»c;.';^tMl  for  his  life,  lu;  Unl  liini  prisoner 
to  .Fames  Towiii',  uimI  i)Ut  liiiii  in  cluiyiics."  His  nsduumi 
uml  (.'iiiiilivn  ciuiic  cvcrv  <l:iy  to  visit  liiiii,  briiij^nii},'  prcs- 
cuts  to  projtititito  tho  Kii^i^lish.  JU'iiij^  carulossly  guiinliMl, 
the  k'nv^  liiiuUy  iiiaile  his  oscaiK'.  In  utteiiipts  to  ircovcr 
him,  some  lighting  and  Moodshed  eiisiU'd,  nnd  two  In- 
dians, named  Kemp  and  Tnssore,  "tho  two  most  cxaet  vil« 
laines  in  all  the  Countrey,"  were  taken  prisoners.  Smith, 
witii  n  cor2)S  of  soldiery,  proeoeding  to  ])nnis]i  tiie  Indians 
on  the  Chickaliominy,  passed  by  Paspuliegh,  and  there  I'on- 
ehided  a  peace  with  the  natives.  They  at  iirst  venturol 
to  attaek  him,  but  unable  to  resist  the  I'lngHsh  weapons 
they  threw  down  tlu'ir  arms,  and  sent  forward  a  young 
warrior,  called  Okaning,  to  make  an  oration. 

He  represented  that  his  ehiel"  in  ellecting  an  escape,  IkuI 
but  followed  the  instincts  of  nature;  that  f<jwls,  beasts, 
iiid  ilshes  strove  t(j  avoid  captivity  and  snares,  and  why 
sliould  not  man  be  allowed  s(j  luiiversal  a  privih'ge?  He 
added  that,  if  the  English  would  not  live  at  pi'aee  with 
tlu'in,  the  tribe  nuist  abandon  the  country,  and  the  su])- 
plies  which  the  colony  had  heretofore  obtained  from  them 
bf  thereby  cut  off. 

'i'lie  p(nver  and  influence  of  Smith  among  the  savages 
wa<  inllnitely  increased  by  a  circumstance  whii'h  occurred 
immediately  after  liis  return  to  Jamestown.  A  ])istol  had 
been  stolen  by  a  Chickaliominy  Indian,  and  liia  two  l)rotli- 
ers,  su])[)osed  to  be  privy  to  the  theft,  had  been  seized,  to 
secure  its  return.  One  of  them  was  sent  in  search  of  the 
missing  article,  assured  that  his  brother  should  l)e  hanged 
if  it  was  not  forthcoming  within  twelve  hours.  Smith, 
"  pitying  the  poore  naked  Salvage  in  the  dungeon,  sent  him 
victuall  and  .some  Char-coale  for  a  lire:  ere  midnight,  his 
brother  returned  with  the  Pistoll,  but  the  poore  Salvage  in 
the  dungeon  was  so  smoothered  with  the  smoake  he  had 
made,  and  so  pittiously  burnt,"  that  he  apj)eared  to  be 


(had. 

toiichiii 

!   nI(hoM<'- 

ne  WoUi 

'j    his  fvU, 

treatjuei 

liis   biii'i 

their  wa 

f'lr  and  i 

dead  to 

by   tlie   , 

»ere  att( 

f-'vn  the 

Aeeidciif, 

liis  peopli 

stolen  pi'( 

all  tlie  eo 


li 


ce  lor  V; 


DISTRKSS  Ol 
i\ATI\ 

I'l 


While 
tinned  in 
natives.     ~ 
we  have 
providing  | 


DTicr 

IlUMl 

[irt'S- 
rcU'tl, 
;ovcr 
J  In-    Ij 

•tvil-  :| 

aiiith,    I  i 
idiiUis    ' ; 

iturnl 

young 

ju',  luul 
briistrt,    I 
1(1  wliv 

.•>    \W 

CO  with 
hv  suj)- 
n  ilium 

I! 
I  I 

s:ivaj::i'S 
(ccurrfd 
;t()l  \w\ 
o  broth- 
i/am1,  to 
of  llu- 
liaiiiio'l 
Sinitli, 
sent  him 
i?:5ht,  his 
alva<j;*'  in 
lie  had 
cd  to  1)0 


fp- 


INDIANH  OK  VllUllMA. 


181 


d(>!id.  His  brother,  ovorwhcliiuMl  witii  ;^'riof,  nttorcd  such 
toiichiii;^'  lamciitiitions  over  tli(^  body,  thut  Ciiptaiii  Sinitli, 
ultlioiigli  ll't'liii^'  little  h')ji(M){' nueeoss,  iissiuvd  liiiii  that 
ho  would  briiij^  the  dead  Indian  to  lili',  provided  he  and 
his  fellows  would  jrive  over  their  thieving.  Kncrgetic 
treatment  restored  the  pooi'  fellow  to  conseiousness,  and, 
his  burns  being  dressed,  the,  simple  [)air  were  se'  *  on 
their  way,  each  with  a  small  present,  to  spread  the  rei)ort, 
far  ami  near,  that  Captain  Smith  had  j)ower  to  restore  the 
(lead  to  life.  Not  long  after,  several  Indians  were  killed 
by  tlie  e\|)losion  of  a  (piantity  of  powder,  which  tht^y 
weri'  attempting  to  dry  upon  a  jilate  of  armor,  as  they  had 
s<'en  the  Knglishdo.  '"I'heseand  many  other  such  pretty 
Aecidetits,  so  amazed  and  frighted  Ixjth  Powhatan  and  all 
his  people,"  th.-it  they  came  in  from  all  quarters,  returning 
stolen  property,  and  begging  for  favour  and  peaee:  "and 
all  the  eouutry,"  says  the  narrator,  "became  absolutely  as 
five  for  vs.  as  for  themselues." 


CHAPTER  IV. 

DISTRKSS  OF  THK  COLONIES — MAKTIN  AND  WRSt's  SETTLEMENTS — 
ARRIVAL  OF   LOUD  DK   LA    WAUKK — UETALIATIONS  UTON  THE 

NATIVES SEIZURE  OF  POCAHONTAS:    IIEK  MARRIAGE 

PEACE  WITII  THE  INDIANS — POCAHONTAS  VISITS 

enoland:  her  death — death  of  row- 

HATAN — rOKV's   SETTLEMENT. 

While  Captain  Smith  remained  in  America  and  con- 
tinued in  ])ower,  he  maintained  his  authority  over  the 
natives.  In  a  grievous  famine  that  succeeded  the  events 
we  have  just  detailed,  they  proved  of  infinite  service  in 
providing  the  wild  products  of  the  forest  for  the  starving 


mm 

of}' 


J-'i' 


.■I     ■    r  XlYM 


•,v.''  t' 


■^'% 


^  ■   'M 
"»''■■ '"'1. 


'  1  ,j . 


>}J>-i'    <■ 


'■-v 


,  >,. 


'     )■■  L  • 


■m 


182 


IXniAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


colonists.  Many  of  tlie  Englisli  wore  sent  out  to  live  with 
the  savages,  and  learn  their  arts  of  gathering  and  prepar- 
ing the  loots  and  otlier  edibles  tliat  must  take  the  place 
of  corn.  These  were  treated  witli  every  kindness  by  the 
Indians,  "of  whom,"  says  Smith,  "tliere  was  more  hope 
to  make  better  Christians  and  good  subjects  than  tlie  one- 
halfe  of  tliose  that  counterfeited  themselnes  both."  Kemp 
and  Tussore,  who  luid  been  set. at  liberty,  remained  tlierc- 
after  staunch  adherents  to  the  English  interests.  Sundry 
malcontents  belonging  to  the  colony  had  lied  into  the 
woods,  thinlving  to  live  in  ease  among  the  natives,  wlioni 
they  promised  revenge  upon  their  old  conqueror,  tlie 
})residcnt.  Kemp,  liowever,  instead  of  giving  ear  to  these 
persuasions,  fedtliem  "witli  this  law,  who  would  not  woi'k, 
must  not  eate,  till  they  were  necre  starued  indeede,  con- 
tinually threatening  to  beat  them  to  death;"  and  iinally 
carried  them  forcibly  back  to  Captain  Smith. 

\n  the  early  part  of  the  sununer  of  1009,  large  su])pli('s 
came  over  from  England,  and  a  great  number  of  liu-tious 
and  disorderly  ad\'entui-ej's  were  brought  into  the  new 
settlement.  Unwilling  to  submit  to  the  authority  oi'  the 
president,  insatiate  after  mines  of  gold  and  silver,  cow- 
ardly in  battle,  and  cruel  and  treacherous  in  peace;  their 
distress  proved  commensurate  with  their  untlirift.  At 
Kansemund,  a  company,  under  one  Caj)tain  Martin,  after 
wantonly  i)rovoking  the  ill-will  of  the  natives,  w;u-  unable 
to  resist  their  attacks;  "and  another  division,  under  AVcst, 
wiiich  attempted  a  settlement  at  the  falls  of  James'  ri\er, 
proved  equally  incfTicient  and  impolitic.  "The  poore  sal- 
vages that  daily  brought  in  their  contributions  to  the 
President,  that  disorderly  company  so  tormented  those 
poore  soules,  by  stealing  their  corne,  robbing  theii-  gjir- 
dens,  beating  them,  breaking  their  houses  and  keeping 
some  prisoners,  that  they  daily  complained  to  Captaine 
Smith,  he  had  brought  them  for  protectors  worse  enemies 


-  i 


u,  after   ; 
miablo 
Wost, 
river, 
lore  sal- 
to  the 
1  tliu.sc 
fir  gar- 
seeping 
'aj)taiiic 
enemies 


INDIANS  OF  VIUGINIA. 


183 


than  the  Monacans  thcmsclucs:  they  desired  pardon  if 
hereafter  tliey  defended  tlieiaselues." 

Carrying  out  this  intentit)n,  the  Indians  fell  upon  the 
fort  immediately  after  Smith's  departure,  Jic  having  set 
sail  for ,]  amestown.  llis  vessel  taking  ground  before  he  had 
proceeded  far,  he  was  called  upon  to  interfere,  and  brought 
matters  to  an  amicable  conclusion,  removing  the  English 
from  the  inconvenient  spot  they  had  selected  fur  their 
habitation  into  the  })leasant  country  of  Powhatan. 

Before  reaching  Jamestown,  Captain  Smith  met  with  so 
severe  an  accident  by  the  firing  of  a  bag  of  gun-powder, 
that  he  was  thereafter  incapacitated  from  furthei-  service 
in  tlie  colony.  So  terril)ly  was  his  flesh  torn  and  burned, 
that,  to  relieve  tlic  pain,  he  instantly  threw  himself  into 
the  river,  from  which  he  was  with  difficulty  rescued.  Tt 
being  impossible  to  procure  the  necessary  medical  assist- 
ance for  the  cure  of  so  extensive  an  injury,  ho  took  pas- 
sage for  England  by  the  first  opjioi'tunity,  and  never  again 
revisited  the  colony  he  had  planted  and  suj)ported  with 
such  singular  devotion,  energy,  and  courage.  The  fate  of 
the  two  principal  of  the  Duteh  conspii'atoi'S  against  his 
life,  is  thus  chronicled:  "But  to  see  the  justice  of  Cod 
vpon  these  Dutchmen : — Adam  and  Francis  were  fled 
againe  to  Powhatan,  to  whom  they  promised,  at  the  arri- 
vall  of  my  Lord  (La  Warre),  what  wonders  they  would 
doe,  would  he  suil'er  them  but  to  goc  to  him.  But  the 
king  set'ing  they  would  be  gone,  rc>plved;  you  that  would 
luiue  betrayed  Captaine  Smith  to  me,  will  certainely  be- 
tray me  to  this  great  Lord  for  your  peace;  so  caused  his 
men  to  l)(>at  out  their  braines." 

Smith's  departure  was  the  signal  for  general  defection 
among  the  Indians.  They  seized  the  boats  of  the  settlers 
under  Martin  and  West;  ^lio,  unable  to  keep  their  ground, 
returned  to  Jamestown,  with  the  loss  of  nearly  half  their 
men.     A  party  of  thirty  or  fort}',  bound  upon  a  trading 


MSIR 

* 

t 

mi 

ill 

^ 

fflliB  ffl 

.^Wffi 

► .  r,.j'.i  .^--'^v; :-'.:;;; 


!;'■  I'- 


'-■'*■, 
■f.1 


i'    ,.!'>  •  ■}  'M,  *'  '  •'    i  'i,  ■■.r?il 


'<■'■/'■,    /■•/-'  /'^i'i^i 

■"m:^i:  ;/ -.i' 

■":  'M'  '.  ■•'.    ■■  ,■     ■  .  ■  ■ ,    !   I 


184 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


exjjcdition,  was  set  upon  by  Powhatan  and  his  warriors, 
and  all  except  two  were  slain.  One  of  these,  a  boy,  named 
Henry  S})ilman,  was  preserved  by  the  intervention  of 
Pocahontas,  and  sent  to  live  among  the  Patawomekes. 
Peduced  to  the  gi'catest  extremity,  the  English  were 
obliged  to  barter  their  very  arms  for  provisions,  thns  add- 
ing to  the  power  of  the  enemy  in  the  same  ratio  that  they 
weakened  their  own  resoui'ees.  Famine,  pestilence,  and 
savage  invasion  reduced  the  colony,  which  befc^-e  had 
nnmbered  live  hundred  inhabitants,  to  about  sixty  miser- 
able and  helpless  wretches,  within  the  short  space  of  six 
months  fi'om  the  time  that  Smitli  set  sail.  The  crude  pro- 
ducts of  the  forest  formed  their  ])nncii)al  food;  "nay,  so 
great  was  om'  famine,"  jiroceeds  the  narrative,  "that  a  ISal- 
uage  we  slew  and  buried,  the  })oorer  sort  took  liim  vj) 
againe  and  eat  him,  and  so  did  diners  one  another,  boyled 
and  stewed  with  roots  and  hei'1)s:  Awd  one  amongst  the 
rest  did  kill  his  wife,  ]iowdered  her  and  hail  eaten  part  of 
her  before  it  was  knowne,  for  which  lie  was  executed  as 
he  well  deserued."' 

Lrpon  the  arrival  of  a  shi{),  with  Sir  'J'homas  dates  and 
company,  all  the  unfortunate  settlers,  abandoning  their 
town,  took  })assagc  with  him  f  >r  iMigland.  At  the  com- 
mencement of  tiie  voyage,  tiny  fell  in  with  Lord  ].a 
AVarre,  who  was  on  his  way  to  Janiestown,  bi'iiiging  with 
him  large  sui)plies  of  nu.'n  and  necessaries;  and  all  returned 
together  to  Jamestown. 

Fortunately  tlie  Indians  had  not,  as  yet,  destroyed  the 
fort,  arid  the  numbers  and  eniciency  c  he  whites  were 
so  far  increased,  that  they  were  "able  to  tame  the  furie 
and  trecherie  of  the  Saluages." 

On  the  loth  of  June  (1(510)  Captain  Argall,  being  en 
gaged  in  a  trading  expedition  among  the  Patawomekes, 
found  there  the  young  ])risoner,  Henry  Spihnan,  wlio  iiad 
met  with   kind   treatm(;nt,   and   by   whose   intervention 


abundj 

made 

history 

while  c 

on  shoi 

and,  aft 

a  great 

head  tl; 

anchor 

slaine  i; 

That 

ncwly-a 

sufheiei 

' '    venged 

!    JS'(jt  sat 

II    ])Ut   to  ( 

i:    into  tlie 

il         ^"    ^' 
''    some  (I 

jj    coi'n  w;; 

;  I    Sahuigc 

!    was  at  1 

!     justi(ie( 
upon 
to  some 

'    corn, 

!    who  hat 
ure,  w: 

I    mnu'd 
hr;stag(. 
coyed  li 
treadle 
"theoh 
as  Poc, 
them  tl 


INDIANS  OF  VIRGINIA. 


li)5 


abundance  of  corn  Avas  procured.  Frequent  mention  in 
made  of  Spilman  in  subsequent  portions  of  Virginian 
liistor3\  He  wa.s  killed  by  the  Potomac  Indians,  in  1623, 
while  on  a  trading  cxj^cdition  up  the  river.  Having  gone 
on  shore  with  some  of  liis  compau}-,  some  difiicult}^  arose, 
and,  after  a  short  skirmish,  those  on  board  the  boat,  "heard 
a  great  b/xutc  among  tlie  Salvages  a  shore,  and  saAV  a  mans 
head  throwne  downe  the  banke,  wherciipon  they  weighed 
anchor  and  returned  home,  but  how  he  was  surprised  or 
slaine  is  uncertaine." 

That  the  colonists  were  not  slow  in  making  use  of  their 
newly-acrpiired  power  over  the  natives  in  their  vicinity, 
sullicientlj'  appears  from  the  manner  in  which  they  re- 
venged some  injuries  received  froin  those  of  Paspahegh. 
Not  satisfied  with  burning  tlieir  town,  they  deliberutely 
])ut  to  death  the  (picen  and  her  chikb'en,  who  had  tlillen 
into  their  hands. 

In  the  following  year  the  Ajipomatuck  Indians,  for 
some  (jll'ences,  were  driven  froni  tlieir  homes,  and  their 
corn  was  seized,  "without  the  loss  of  any  except  some  few 
Saluages."  The  manner  in  which  j'cuceful  intercourse 
was  at  hist  established  with  Powhatan,  however  it  maybe 
justified  upon  the  plea  of  necessity,  refiects  but  little  credit 
upon  the  English.  Argall,  in  the  year  1613,  (accoi-ding 
to  some  chroniclers,)  while  up  the  Potomac  in  search  of 
corn,  heard  iVoni  the  sachem  Japazaws  that  Pocahontas, 
who  had  not  been  seen  at  .lanu'st(_)wn  since  Smith's  depart- 
ure, was  ri'siding  among  his  people.  The  cajttain  deter- 
mined not  to  lose  the  opportimity  to  secure  so  valual)lc  a 
hostage,  and  having,  by  the  assistance  of  .Tapazaws,  de- 
coyed her  on  board  his  ship,  lie  made  her  prisoner.  The 
treachei'ous  Potomac  sachem  pretended  great  disti'css; 
"the  old  lew  and  his  wife  began  to  howk^  and  crie  as  fast 
as  Pocahontas,"  but  api)eai\'d  ])acified  when  Ai'gall  told 
them  that  the  princess  should  be  well  treatc(l,  and  restored 


«•  <  r,. 


In    ",i 


i 


!    < 


>:^i 


if( 


>  <1 


•i 


1  ' 


/ 


-  '  f   ( 'f  /ill 


1  ti'ifi 


186 


INlflAX  HACKS  OF  AMERICA. 


as  soon  as  Powliatan  would  make  restitution  of  tlie  goods 
he  liail  purloined  and  jilundered  from  the  colony. 

Wlien  the  emperor  learned  of  this  transaetion,  the 
"vnAveleonie  newes  mueli  troubled  him,  because  he  lourd 
both  his  daughter  and  the  English  eonuiiodities  well;" 
and  he  left  Potiahontas  in  the  enemies'  hands  for  several 
.months  l)ef(ii'e  he  deigned  to  pay  the  least  attention  to 
their  demands.  It  has  been  supposed,  and  with  great 
sliow  (if  reason,  that  the  kinddiearted  a'irl  liad  lost  lavoi- 
Avith  her  father  bv  her  svmpathv  witli  tlie  Enulisli,  and  bv 
endeavoi'iiig  to  save  them  at  thr  time  of  the  massacres 
whicli  jii'ecedi'd  tlie  last  arrival;  and  that  this  was  the 
cause  of  her  retirement  to  Potomac. 

When  Powhatan  at  last  consented  to  treat,  his  oilers 
were  entirelv  nnsatisfaetorv  to  the  Knu-lisli,  ami  another 
long  inter\al  (hqiscd  without  any  communieatiijii  from 
him.  Mcanliiiic,  an  ardent  attachnnMit  lia<l  sprung  up 
between  Poeaiiontas  and  a  young  J'lnglishmaii  of  the  cn)l- 
ouv  named  John  Rolfe,  '';ui  honest  ueutleman  and  of  ii'ood 
behavioui'."  When  it  was  at  last  concluded  to  use  open 
force  to  reduce  Powhatan  to  com])liance  with  the  English 
renuisilions,  a  large  lorce  ])roceeded  to  the  chief's  lu'ad- 
quai'ters,  by  water,  taking  tlu'  jiriiicess  with  them.  The  In- 
dians exhibited  an  insolent  and  warlike  demeanor,  but  wt're 
easily  jait  to  llight,  and  their  town  wasl)urned.  Pursuing 
their  advantage,  the  invading  party  ])roeeeded  uj)  the  I'ivci 
to  Matchot,  where,  a  truce  being  agreed  upon,  twoof  I'ow 
hataii's  sons  came  t(j  visit  tlR'ir  sister,  and,  overjoyed  at 
linding  her  well  and  kindly  cai'eil  j'or,  promisi'il  their  best 
endeavors  to  bring  matters  to  a  peaceful  issue.  Rolfe,  with 
one  companion,  had  an  intt'rview  with  Opechaneanough, 
who  also  derlart^l  that  he  would  strive  to  }»ersuade  the 
Icing  to  com]ilia!.ec>  with  the  English  pro))osals. 

AVheu  I'owhatan  heard  of  the  propo><ed  mai'riage  of  his 
daughtei',   his  anger  and   resentment  towards  the   whites 


.    i 


INDIANS  OF  VIJIGINIA. 


187 


sccmcd  to  be  appeased.  He  sent  liis  brotlicr  Opitehapan, 
and  otliei's  of  his  family,  to  witness  tlie  ceremony,  and 
I'caLiily  permitted  the  old  terms  of  trade  and  intimacy  to 
be  renewed.  Pocahontas  and  John  liolfe  were  married 
about  the  first  of  April,  1013. 

The  Chickahominies,  hearing  that  Powhatan  was  in 
league  with  the  colony,  fult  little  inclined  to  be  upon  ill- 
terms  with  so  powei'ful  a  confederacy;  and,  having  made 
advances,  a  treaty  of  friendship  was  entered  into  with  all 
due  forms  and  ceremonies. 

Not  contented  witii  the  security  against  Powhatan's 
hostility  which  the  i)ossession  of  his  beloved  daughter  af- 
forded, the  colonial  govci-nor.  Sir  Thomas  Dale,  sought 
yet  another  hostage  from  the  king;  and  in  l(il4  sent  John 
Eolfc  and  llal])h  llamor  to  Ium  court  for  this  purpose. 

The  aged  chief  ivceived  them  with  courtesy  and  kind- 
ness, and  appeared  pleased  and  gratified  at  the  accounts 
which  they  gave  him  of  Pocahontas'  satisfaction  with  her 
new  alliance,  and  the  religion  and  customs  of  the  English. 
AVheii  the  pur})ose  of  the  mission  was  made  known  to 
him,  which  was  no  other  than  the  obt;iining  possession  of 
his  youngest  daughter,  upon  ju'cti-xt  of  manying  her 
nobly,  Powhatan  gravely  refused  compliance,  lie  would 
never  trust  himself,  he  said,  in  the  power  of  the  I'lnglish; 
and  therefore,  if  he  .should  send  away  his  child,  wlK)m  he 
now  loved  as  his  life,  and  beyond  all  his  other  numerous 
oll'.-;j;'-ing,  it  would  be  never  again  to  behold  hrr.  "^ly 
bi'ollier,"  he  added,  "hath  a  pledge,  one  of  my  daughters, 
which  so  long  as  she  lives  shall  be  sulUcieut,  when  sin; 
dies  he  .shall  have  another:  I  hold  it  not  a  brotherly  ])art 
to  desire  to  bereave  me  of  my  two  chiUlren  at  onee.'' 

Pocahontas  was  carefully  educatcsd  in  the  Christian 
religion,  which  .she  ap})eared  sincerely  to  embrace.  She 
nourished  the  warmest  aiVection  for  her  husband,- — u])<»n 
his  part  faithfully  returned;  and  what  with  these  new  ties. 


'\'.' 


>  I  < 


^\    ' 

Ml 
'1    fl 

'  -'id 


ttwjjJdL--,  t 


.  K<  4 


188 


INIJIAN   KACES  OF  AMERICA. 


and  the  enlarged  ideas  attendant  upon  edneation  and  inter- 
course with  intelligent  Eur<ii)eans,  she  seemed  entirely  to 
lose  all  desire  of  assoeiating  with  her  own  people. 

Koll'e  and  his  wife  sailed  for  Kngland  in  KilG,  jind 
reaehed  I'lynunith  on  the  I'ith  of  -Tune.  Great  inteivst 
was  cxeited  hy  their  arrival,  hoth  at  court  and  among 
many  })eople  of  distinction.  Captain  Smith  prepared  an 
address  to  the  rpieen  upon  this  occasion,  setting  forth  in 
quaint,  but  touching  language,  the  continued  kindness 
and  valuable  services  received  by  himself  and  the  colony 
at  large  from  l\)cahontas.  lie  commendtKl  her  t(j  his 
ro3'al  mistress,  as  "the  first  Christian  cuer  of  that  Xation, 
the  first  Viririnian  cuer  spake  English,  or  had  a  childe  in 
marriatjfe  bv  an  Phmliohman,  a  matter  supply  worthy  a 
Princes  vnderstanding." 

AVhcn  Smith  nu^t  with  his  preserver  at  Branford,  whei'c 
she  was  staying  with  her  husband  after  her  arrival  in  Kng- 
land,  his  demeanor  did  not  at  first  satisfy  her.  Kticpielte, 
and  the  restraints  of  English  customs,  prev(Mited  him  jjcr- 
haps  from  making  such  demonstration  of  aiVection  as  she 
had  expected  from  her  adopted  father.  "vVfter  a  modest 
salutation,''  he  says,  "without  any  word,  she  turned  hei'- 
self  about,  obscured  her  face  as  not  seeming  VicW  contented  ; 
and  in  that  humour,  he.  husband,  with  diuers  others,  we 
all  left  her  two  or  three  houres,  repenting  mj'self  to  haue 
writ  shee  could  speake  English." 

This  {lique,  or  whatever  emotion  it  may  have  been,  soon 
passed  oil",  and  she  began  to  converse  freely  upon  old  times 
and  scenes.  She  said  she  would  always  call  Smith  her 
father,  that  he  should  call  her  child,  and  ever  consider  lier 
as  his  "Countriemau."  It  seems  that  she  had  been  told 
that  he  Avas  dead,  and  only  learned  the  trutli  on  reaching 
England.  I'owhatan  had  been  anxious  to  get  intelligence 
of  liis  old  rival,  and  specially  commissioned  an  Indian  of 
his  council,  named  Uttomatornakkin,  wdiom  he  si-nt  over 


INDIANS  OF  VIUGINIA. 


189 


to  England,  to  find  out  Captain  Smith;  to  see  tlie  Eiig- 
lirihnicu's  God,  their  qut'ou,  and  their  prince;  and  to 
ascertain  the  number  of  the  couutryV  inhabitants. 

Tliis  hist  direction  he  endeavored  to  perform  by  carrying 
a  stick  witli  him,  and  making  a  notcli  for  every  man  he 
saw,  "but  lie  was  quickly  wcaric  of  tliat  task," 

Captain  Argall,  liolfe,  and  others,  having  been  furnished 
with  an  outht  for  Virginia,  in  1617,  Pocahontas  (known 
as  Kebecca,  since  her  baptism  and  conversion,)  was  about 
to  revisit  her  native  country,  but  was  taken  suddenly  ill, 
and  died  at  Gravesend.  "Shee  made  not  more  surrow  lor 
her  vnexpecled  dealli,  than  ioy  to  tlie  beholders  to  heai'e 
and  sec  her  make  so  religious  and  godly  an  end.''  She 
left  one  child,  Thomas  ItoUe,  win)  afterwards  resided  in 
Virginia,  and  from  whom  many  families  in  that  state  still 
trace  their  urigin.  The  celebrated  John  Kandolph,  of 
Jioanoke,  was  one  ol'  his  descendants. 

At  Jamestown,  Argall  found  matters  in  a  bad  state, 
hittle  was  attended  to  but  the  raising  of  tobacco,  which 
was  seen  growing  in  the  streets  and  market  place.  The 
saviiges  had  become  bold  and  familiar,  "as  fre(pient  in  the 
colonists'  houses  as  themsclues,  whereby  they  were  become 
expert  in  the  English  arms."  They  broke  out.  in  some 
instances,  into  open  murder  and  robbery,  but  the  old  chief 
()l)echaneanough,  when  redress  was  demanded,  disclahned 
all  knowledge  of  or  partici})ation  in  the  outrages. 

The  venerable  Powhatan  died  in  A])ril,  of  the  year 
1618,  and  was  succeeded  l>y  his  .second  brother  Itopatin. 
The  new  king,  as  well  as  the  formidable  Opechancanough, 
seemed  desirous  of  continuing  at  peace  with  the  whites. 
Despite  his  protestations  of  friendship,  and  renewal  of 
Holenm  leagues  and  covenants,  th(>  old  king  of  Pamaunky 
was  still  held  in  sore  susjucion,  and  it  is  plain  tliat  Indi'u 
power,  if  roused  against  the  colony,  was  growing  formida- 
ble. The  historian  expresses  his  amazement  "to  undei'stand 


,.^y,,.;,;,:,/V;;,j;J 


190 


INDIAN  UACEH  OF  AMKUICA. 


liow  straiiLTi'ly  the  Salii;iu,vs  hud  bcciie  tuuglit  the  use  of 
arms,  aiul  iinjiloied  in  hunting  and  fowling  witli  our  fcnvl- 
ing  })iccc.s,  antl  our  men  rooting  in  the  groxind  about 
Tobacco  like  Swine." 

.lohn  Tory,  .secretar_y'  of  tlic  colony,  undertook  a  settle- 
ment on  the  eastern  shore  in  1(521,  Namenacus,  Icing  of 
I'awtuxent,  visited  him,  and  expressed  his  good-will  in 
stylo  characteristic  of  Indian  meta])lu)r.  Baring  his  breast, 
says  Pory,  he  asked  "if  we  saw  any  deformity  v})on  it, 
we  told  him,  Xo;  No  more,  said  he,  is  the  insi<le,  l)nt  as 
sincere  and  pure;  therefore  come  freel}'  to  my  C'omiliie 
and  welcome."  The  English  were  accompanied  by  Thomas 
Salvage  as  inter]ireter;  a  youtli  who,  sixteen  years  before, 
had  ])een  left  with  Powhatan  for  the  jnirpose  of  aeipiiring 
the  Indian  language,  and  who  afterwards  proved  of  great 
service  to  the  colony. 

When  the  ]>arty  reached  IIk;  dwelling  of  Namenacus 
and  his  ln'cAher  Wamanato,  they  were  most  hospitably 
received  and  entertained.  Boiled  oysteis  were  set  bi  fore 
them  in  a  "brasse  Kettle  as  bright  ^vithout  as  williin," 
and  the  alliance  was  <;emented  by  exchange  of  presents, 
"Wamanato  promised  to  keep  what  he  had  received 
"whilst  he  lived,  and  burie  tliem  with  him  being  dead. 
Ilee  much  w(jndered  at  our  Bible,"  proceeds  Pory,  "but 
much  more  to  heare  it  was  the  law  of  our  God,  and  the 
first  Chapter  of  (lenesis  expounded  of  Adam  and  Eve, 
and  simple  marriage;  to  which  he  replied  he  was  like 
Adam  in  one  thing,  ibr  he  ncuer  had  but  one  wife  at 
once;  but  he,  as  all  the  rest,  .seemed  more  willing  of  other 
discourses  they  better  vnderstood." 


INDIANS  OF  VIltr.INIA. 


CilAI'TKU  V. 


191 


THE  VIllGlNIA  MASSACUKS  Ol-    KJ-J-J,  AND  OK   Kill    (ou   1044) 

DKATII  OI'"  ()l'i:i,'HA.N(A.\()i;(iH. 

The  spring  of  1022  was  rrn'moniljlc  (or  a  deep-ltiid  and 
partially-successful  plot,  itttributed  in  no  small  ini'asure  to 
the  contrivance  of  OpcchancunoM^li,  lor  the  extermina- 
tion of  the  Kn,L;lish  (;o1om y.  The  settlers  had  come  to  look 
upon  the  Indians  with  a  mixture  of  coiulcscension  and 
contonipt;  they  admitted  them  freely  into  their  houses; 
sulfered  thein  to  ac([uire  the  use  of  Kn.ulish  wH-aixms:  and 
took  little  or  no  precautions  against  an  outbreak.  The 
plantations  and  villages  of  the  whites  were  widely  sepa- 
rat(Ml  and  ill-[)r()tecti'il,  olfei-ing  an  e;isv  opportunity  lijr  a 
sudden  and  concerle(l  attaek. 

No  susi>ici()ns  whatevci'  \vei'i>  enteilainetl  of  any  hostile 
intent  upon  the  part  of  the  savages  until  Just  belore  the 
massacre  CI immrnecd,  and  then  tliciT  was  neither  time  nor 
opitortunity  to  convty  the  intelligence  to  the  distant  set- 
tlements, ^riie  plot  was  so  arranged  that  uj)on  a  day 
appoinleil,  the  22d  of  March,  the  Indians  spread  them- 
selv«'s  thrixighout  the  settlements,  and,  going  into  the 
houses,  or  joining  the  lahoi'ers  in  the  Held,  on  preteiu'c  of 
trade,  took  the;  iirst  oppoi'tuuity  to  kill  those  with  whom 
they  Avere  conuuunicating,  by  a  blow  fj'om  behind. 

No  le^s  than  three  hundred  and  fortv-seven  of  the  Kn<i-- 
lish  perished,  the  most  extensive  nuissacre  at  anyone  spot 
being  that  in  Maitin's  Jlundi-ed,  oidy  seven  miles  from 
Jamestown.  The  savages  s])ared  not  their  Lest  liiends^ 
with  wdu)m  they  had  held  amicable  intercourse  for  vears, 
but  availed  themselves  (jf  that  very  intimacy  to  carrv  out 
their  bloody  design  with  the  greater  secrecy  and  impu- 
nity. One  only  showed  signs  of  n-lenting.  "The  slaugh- 
ter had  been  nnivcrsall  if  God  had  not  ])Ut  it  into  the 


'■^^'^iSlii 


!  .     !•'' 


'M 

■'  '-it. 


■■'■■■  ^')..'     ,'  '\  ■  ,',.  H'--;   'M 

■■■■''••  ii'v'^.'sir 


192 


IMUAN  JJAC'KS  OK  AMKIUCA. 


heart  of  an  liuliaii,  win*  lyin^'  in  ll'i!  lnnusc  of  one  I'acc, 
was  ur^fi'(l  liv  aiinilici'  Indian,  his  hrothcr,  tliat  lay  witli 
him  tli(.'  ni,L^lit  In'lui'c,  to  kill  I'aco  as  he  shonld  do  I'orrv, 
whifh  was  his  iVicnd,  liiMn^sot'oinniandi'd  I'roni  tlioirking." 

liistcail  ol'  c'oiii[ilyin<r,  he  lose,  and  ituuh'  known  to  his 
host  the  plan  of  the  next  (hiy's  attack.  Pace  earricil  the 
intelligenee  to  Jamestown  with  the  utmost  cxpeilitioii, 
and  the  caution  was  spread  as  i'ar  as  possihk'.  Whci'evcr 
the  Inihans  saw  the  Knglish  U}H)n  tlieir  guard,  no  atteni})t 
was  made  upon  them,  even  where  there  was  a  gross  dis- 
parity in  iiundjers.  One  of  Smitli's  old  guard,  Nathaniel 
Causie,  after  receiving  a  severe  wound,  seized  an  axe,  and 
put  those  to  flight  who  IkkI  set  u})on  him.  In  another 
instantr,  two  men  repelled  the  attack  of  sixty  savages, 
and  a  Mi'.  Baldwin,  at  Warraskoyaek,  defended  his  house 
and  its  inmates  single  handed,  the  Indiaus  being  unwilling 
to  stand  his  fire.  Women,  children,  ami  unarmed  men;  all 
who  could  1)C  taken  unawares,  wei'e  mui'deit'd,  and  their 
bodies  hacked  and  mutilated.  No  tie  of  friendship  or 
Ibrmer  favor  proved  sti'oiig  enough  to  stay  the  hand  of  the 
remorseless Ibe.  A  ^Ir.  'i'hoi'p,  who  had  shown  vvwy  kind- 
ness to  the  Indians,  and  esjieeially  to  the  king,  Avas  one 
of  the  victims,  his  'dead  corps  being  abused  with  such 
spight  and  seorue  as  is  unlit  to  be  lu-ard  with  ciuill  eares." 
]le  had  foi'inerly  built  a  e(>uvenient  house  for  the  saeliem, 
"altei-the  English  fashion,  in  which  he  took  such  ])lcasui'e, 
especially  in  the  locke  and  key,  which  he  soe  admiicd  as 
locking  and  vidocking  his  (h)ore  a  hundred  tinu^s  a  day, 
he  thought  no  device  in  the  world  comparable  to  it." 

It  was  su])posed  that  the  motive  which  ojierated  most 
forcibly  upon  ()peelianc:nioiin|i,  in  urging  him  to  tlies(; 
enormities,  was  the  death  of  Nemattanow,  one  of  his  favor- 
ites, styled  "Jack  of  the  lA'ather,  Ijccause  hee  commonly 
was  most  strangely  adorned  \\  ith  them."  This  Indian  was 
shot,- about  a  fortnight  before  the  massacre,  for  the  mur- 


der of  a 

on  jiretf 

Little 

of  the  r 

oral  eng, 

savages 

liundi-ed 

,1   the  conn 

the  b 

{ I    tween  th( 

i ,    the  pale  fi 

j|   open  War 

long  a  till 

I'ill,  niui 

organized 

i     even  ;i  ]j| 

sacre  of  1 
,'    by  some,  1 
,'!       Alter 
!    that  the 
and  the  a 
Was  carricl 
j    ties  and  a  I 
'    indignity 
dier,  in  i'c| 
Althouglil 
utterly  iu'l 
out  assist ij 
nity  and 
Berkley, 
around  aii 
It  is  s;J 
of  VirginI 
and  the  hi 
over  u  naJ 
13 


I 


TN'l'IAXS  or  VIKdINIA. 


1!)3 


(Icrof  a  man  named  Nforgau,  whom  he  enticed  from  home 
on  pretence  of  ti'ade. 

Little  active  ellorts  were  made  to  revenge  the  uprising 
of  the  Indians.  After  the  bloody  day  in  March,  no  gci- 
oral  engaginncnt  took  })lace  betwetMi  the  l*]nglisli  and  the 
savages  until  the  ensuing  autumn,  when  an  army  of  three 
hundred  colonists  marched  to  Nandsamund,  and  laid  waste 
the  country. 

The  bitterest  animosity  pre\  ailed  for  many  years  be- 
tween the  rival  claimants  to  the  country — the;  Indians  and 
llic^jale  fact.vs,  who  were  su])[ilanting  them,  insiiliously,  or  by 
open  warfare.  Tha  old  chief  Opechaneanough  remained 
long  a  thorn  in  the  sides  of  the  colonists;  and,  as  late  as 
btll,  nine  years  alter  the  conclusion  of  a  settled  peace,  he 
organi/edact)nspirae.y,  which  residtiMl  in  thedeslruclion  (A' 
even  a  larger  number  of  the  whites  than  fell  in  the  nnus- 
sacre  ol'  1()22.  '1  1m'  time  of  the  second  uprising  is  ti.ved, 
by  some,  three  years  later  than  the  date  above  mentioniid. 

After  that  event,  tin;  wai'  was  pursued  with  the  energy 
that  the  dangerous  circumstances  of  tlu;  colony  required; 
and  tlu!  aged  chief,  falling  into  tlu'  hands  of  the  Knglish, 
was  cai'ric\l  captive  to  Jamestown.  Regard  to  his  inlirnii- 
tics  and  age  restrained  the  authorities  from  showing  him 
indignity  or  unkindness,  but  he  was  shot  by  a  private  sol- 
dier, in  revenge,  as  is  supposed,  for  some  Ibriner  injury. 
Allhougli  so  enfeebled  by  the  weight  of  years  as  to  be 
utterly  helpless,  and  unable  even  to  raise  his  eyelids  with- 
out assistance,  the  venerable  chief  still  maintained  his  dig- 
nity and  lirmness;  and.  Just  betiu'c  his  death,  rebuked 
Berkley,  the  governor,  for  sullering  his  people  to  crowd 
around  and  qhzg  upon  him. 

It  is  said,  by  some  historians,  that  he  was  not  a  native 
of  Virginia,  but  that  he  was  reputed  among  his  subjeet^s 
and  the  neighboring  tribes,  to  have  been  formerly  a  king 
over  a  nation  far  to  the  south-west. 
13 


'^^ 


11 


§m 


m 


';,'■'   '. 


H\     '^'f 


V,v] 


.'  ' 

ti';» 

,  .'  "  1         ,  ,  , 

,       ■\     ■■■■■"( 

'■'  ■  ■  w-n 

:    _     ;,,;^:   ' 

■      .     .     'H 

.  ■'■"■•  ^ 

<   \V  '  •■.'1 

.-r^n:.  :',*:•,;■ 


''i.'i  \ 


^■-^'■v; 


!  .1  ■  ,1 


■    <■  .'v^e,  )<ir.:;K'i;i 


l\)i  INDLVX  HACKS  OF     MEKIOA. 


CIIArTHK   VI. 

smith's  ACCOl/NT  OK  TIIK    INHMIIKKS,   AI'I'KAUANCK,   AND    HAIllTS    Of 

TIIK    INDIANS. 

"     *     ♦     *     To  till-  door 
Tlu!  red  nmii  slowly  diii(,'s  tlu'  fiiornioii.i  hear, 
Slain  in  tiio  clu'stnut  thicket,  or  tliiiifs  down 
Tile  diser  I'roni  Iuh  stronjj  slio\ildi!M." — Hit  v ant. 

Virginia,  liki^  every  other  division  of  the  castoni  (lotist 
of  Nortli  Ainorioji,  wus  but  tiiiiily  iiiliiibitiMl  wlicii  tlu; 
wliitc  sottlcmunts  fif.st  coininomied.  As  liuntiiif^  I'ortiinl 
the  cliicl'  nu'iuis  of  siil»sist(Micc  to  tlui  luitivt's  diii'iiijr  u 
considL'i'iibk;  portion  of  tlu;  yciir,  it  was  iiiij)i'actie'ubl(;  liir 
tliein  to  livcclosi'ly  ct  .^nvgatcd.  'i'lieni  weiv  foiiipntt'd  to 
bo,  witliin  sixty  miles  of  tlie  Sfttleineiitol'.Iaiiicstiiwii,  souh' 
live  thousand  Indians,  of  whom  not  ([uitc  one-third  wric 
men  servicca'ole  in  war.  'J'iif  h)wer  [)ortion  of  tiie  I'ow- 
hatan  or  .lanie.s'  river,  below  tlu,'  lidls,  ])assed  tlir()Uj.di  the 
country  of  the  great  king  ami  ti'ibe  who  bore  the  same  name: 
among  the  mountains  at  its  .source  dwelt  the  Af(jnaeaii.^. 
The  great  nations  were  .sub-divided  into  a  iiuiiiIkm'  of  small- 
er tribes,  each  subject  to  its  own  Werowjinc(>,  or  king. 

The  .stature  and  gcMieral  ai»])earance  of  dilferent  races 
among  them  |»re.si'nted  considei'able  di.s('re[)aiiey.     01"  the 


KO 


Sa.S(]U(.'sahanoeks,  Smith  says:  "Such  great  and  well-])n 
2)ortioned  men  an^  scldome  semie,  for  they  seemed  iil 
giants  to  the  English. —  For  their  language,  it  may  well 
be.seemc  their  ])roi)(irtioiis,  sounding  from  them  as  a  voyce 
in  a  vault."  One  of  their  chief  Werowanees  measured 
three-quarters  of  a  yard  about  the  calf  of  his  leg,  "and 
all  the  rest  of  his  limbs  so  answerable  to  that  pro])ortioii, 
that  he  seemed  the  gcjodliest  man  we  ever  beheld.  J  lis 
hayre,  the  one  side,  was  long,  the  other  shore  close,  with 
u  ridge  like  a  cock's  combe." 


These  j 

have  Cas 

man's  lie; 

of  the  J{( 

liiuiging  I 

iiind  him 

had  the  1. 

Iiis  tobac( 

1 1   earned  wi 

great  end, 

Kiirther 

ailjaceiit  ri 

The  Moiia 

trihcs,  will 

ilissimilar 

nicate  by  i 

The  cloi 

of  skin.s,   (I 

till'  season. 

.'Mid  thick  I 

like  a  natui 

tliernselvesi 

woven  from 

cially  amoij 

pocone,  mi 

to  satisiy  tl 

hody.     il(. 

strolls  to  b| 

I'oiidanls  oi 

"'Some  of 

and  yclloui 

which,   era| 

oftentimes 

Their  vvi  J 
hut  smoky, 


INDIANS  OF  Vlur.INlA. 


195 


Thosn  people  w(M('  (li'fsscd  in  bciir  uiid  vvdlf-skiiis:  "some 
have  Ciussiieks  iiuule  ol'  JJcjire's  heads  uud  skiruies,  that  a 
man's  head  goes  throu<,'h  the  skiniies  neck,  and  the  emus 
of  the  lieare  fastened  to  his  shoidders,  the  nose  und  tecitli 
lianjfjnj^  downe  his  breast,  another  Beare'.s  face  split  l>o- 
liitid  him,  and  at  tlit!  end  of  the  nose  huiif^  a  paw.  -One 
had  tiie  liead  of  ii  Wolle  lian<zin,L,'  in  a  ehaine  for  a  ic.wi^ll; 
his  tobaeco  pipe  three  (piartiMs  of  a  yuni  lonj^,  pn^ttily 
earned  with  a  Bird,  a  Deere,  or  some  sueh  devise  at  the 
j,M'eat  end,  snllieicnt  to  beat  out  ones  braines." 

Further  to  tiie  South,  upon  the  Uappahanock,  and  other 
adjacent  rivers,  dwelt  an  iiderior  jicoplc,  of  small  stature;, 
'file  McMiaeans,  Mannahocks,  Sasipiesahanoeks,  and  (Hher 
trilx'S,  whii'h  environed  the;  Powhatan  eountry,  were  so 
dissimilar  in  their  lan^fuaj,^',  that  they  eould  only  eommu- 
iiii'ate  by  int('r|iretation. 

The  elolhin^- of  all  these  Indians  eonsistcd  jirincipally 
of  skins,  dressed  with  or  without  the  hair,  aeeordin^  to 
the  season.  Oeeasionally  would  be  seen  a  nuvntle  neatly 
;ind  thiekly  eovered  with  feathers,  so  fastened  as  to  appt'ar 
like  a  natural  ffrosvth;  but  many  of  the  savajj;es  contented 
tlieiuselves  with  vi'ry  sim])le  and  primitive  habiliments, 
woven  from  <^rass  and  leaves.  Tattooinic  was  eommon,  es|)i>- 
ciully  amon^f  the  women,  and  the  red  powdered  root  of  the 
|iiicone,  mixed  with  oil  to  the  eonsisteney  of  [)aint,  served 
to  satisfy  their  barbaric  taste  for  I'aueilully  coloring  the 
body,  lie  was  ''the  most  gallant  who  was  the  most  mon- 
strous to  behold.''  ^I'lieir  ears  were  generally  bored,  and 
l"'ndants  of  copper  and  other  ornaments  were  attached. 
''Some  of  their  men  weare  in  those  holes  a  small  green 
and  yellow  coloured  snake,  lu'ar  half  a  yavde  in  hMigth, 
whi(;h,  crawling  and  lap))ing  herself  about  his  necke, 
oftentimes  would  familiarly  kisse  his  li[)s." 

Their  wigwams  were  nmeh  after  the  usual  fashion,  warm, 
but  smoky,  and  stood  in  the  midst  of  the  planting  gi'ounds 


1   !„■ 

-i\' 

'        ,-'■'■ 
''    ( '''■ ,  , 

i 

.  '\''^: 

n 

1 

,1:1; 


./fj 


1  >1 


\''-'  I  .c^l 


!^!^i^'',    ',r'.-:.-,  \;  •'■1 


Victim--,  ■  ' 


iii 


^"•, 


:m'7 


■*.       1  '.       ■  ii..  •.  ^w 


nn 


196 


INDIAN  IIACES  OF  AMERICA. 


where  tlioy  raised  their  beans,  corn,  and  ponipions.  iVboiit 
the  dwellings  of  sonic,  mulberry-trees  were  planted,  ami 
fine  groves  of  the  same  grew  naturally  in  various  jjarts  uf 
the  country.  'I'lic  English  made  an  altern[)t  to  rai-j  silk 
here,  "and  surely  the  wormes  prospered  excellent  well  till 
the  master-worknuvn  i'ell  siekc.  During  which  time  they 
■wee  eatiMi  with  rats."  To  ellect  a  clearing,  the  custuni 
of'tlic  natives  was  to  girdle  the  trees  by  bruising  and  burn- 
ing the  bark  near  the  root;  and,  in  the  ensuing  year,  the 
soil  was  rudely  loosened  for  the  reception  of  the  seed. 

During  a  great  part  of  the  year  they  were  obligcil  to 
resort  to  the  natural  productions  of  the  Ibi-est,  sea,  and 
rivers  for  their  su]iport;  and,  as  their  diet  varied  with  the 
season,  "even  as  the  deere  and  wild  beasts,  they  seemed 
fat  and  leane,  strong  and  weake."  In  the  spi'ing  they  re- 
lied chiefly  upon  lisli  and  small  game;  in  sunnner,  l)elure 
the  green  corn  was  ready  for  use,  they  were  obliged  It.  eke 
out  a  subsistence  with  roots,  acorns,  and  shcll-lish.  vSouic 
species  of  acorns,  besides  being  usel'ul  as  food,  furnished  an 
oil  with  which  the  natives  anointed  their  heads  and  ji)iiits. 

Smith  enumerates  many  of  the  wild  fi'uits  and  game 
which  were  SiUight  by  the  Indians,  describing  them  in 
quaint  and  fured)le  Ianguag(\  It  is  singular  to  observe 
how  the  original  Indian  names  of  j)laiits  and  animals  have 
been  altered  and  corru])ted  on  their  adoption  by  the  Ku;''- 
lish.  All  will  recognize  the  "putchamin,"  whose  "fruit  is 
like  a  medlar;  it  is  first  green(>,  then  yellow,  then  red, 
when  it  is  ripe,  ''  it  be  not  ripe,  it  will  draw  a  mans 
mouth  awry,  with  much  torment."  Broth  or  bread  made 
from  the  "C'heeliinciuamin,"  (Chincopin),  was  considered  ii 
great  dainty. 

With  a  slight  change  of  orthogi-aphy,  the  "Aroughcun, 
a  beast  ranch  like  a  badger,  but  wliieh  useth  to  live  on 
trees  as  squirrels  doe,"  becomv.'S  familiar,  as  do  also  the 
"Opiissum"  and  "Mussascus." 


m 


INDIANS  OF  VIRGINIA. 


197 


Among  tlic  fish,  a  kind  of  ray  attractccl  the  worthy  cap- 
tain's special  achniration,  being  "so  like  the  jtictiirc  of  St. 
George  his  dragon  as  possible  can  be,  except  his  legs  and 


wings. 


Tlic  Indians  fished  with  nets,  woven  with  no  little  skill; 
with  hooks  of  bone;  with  the  spear;  and  with  arrows 
attached  to  lines.  For  other  game,  the  principal  weapon 
was  the  bow  and  ari'ow.  '^Fhc  arrows  were  generally 
headed  with  bone  or  fiint,  but  sometimes  with  the  spur 
of  a  turkey  or  a  bird's  bill.  It  is  astonishing  how  the  stone 
arrow-heads,  which  are,  to  this  day,  found  scattered  over 
our  whole  country,  could  have  been  shapiul,  or  attached 
to  the  reed  with  any  degree  of  firmness.  Smith  says  that 
a  small  bone  was  wtu'u  constantly  at  the  "bracert"  fortlie 
purpose  of  manufacturing  them— })robably  to  hold  the 
fhnt  while  it  was  chipped  into  shape  by  another  stone — 
and  that  a  strong  glne,  obtained  by  boiling  deer's  horns 
and  sinews,  served  to  fasten  them  securely.  Very  soon 
after  intercourse  with  Europeans  commenced,  these  rude 
implements  were  superseded  by  those  of  iron. 

Deer  were  IninteM  with  most  efiect,  by  drivhig  in  large 
companies,  dispersed  through  the  woods.  When  a  single 
hunter  underttwk  the  pursuit,  it  was  usual  for  him  to  dis- 
guise himself  in  the  skin  of  a  deer,  thrusting  his  ann 
dn-ough  the  "cck  into  the  head,  which  was  so  .stulled  as 
to  resemble  that  of  the  living  animal.  Thus  accoutred  he 
would  gi-adually  ai)proach  his  [irev,  imitating  the  motions. 
of  a  deer  as  nearly  as  ])0ssible,  stopping  occasionally,  and 
appearing  to  be  occupied  in  licking  his  body,  until  near 
cuougli  for  a  shot. 

In  war  these  Indians  pursued  much  tlu^  same  course  as 
the  other  eastern  nations.  On  one  occasion,  at  Matfapa- 
nicnt,  they  entertained  Smith  and  his  companions  with  a 
sham  fight,  one  division  taking  the  part  of  Monacans,  and 
tlie  other  of  Powhatans.     After  the  first  discharge  of 


^iii^itMi 


■  Iff ^  M 


■^■. 


"  ■  i  •■  ; 


i  (I 


-m 


m 


r^i  -■' 


,.-  ■■■(■  rLlj; 

■■■^•^'ii'f'''' '■'♦il 


198 


INDIAN  RACES  OP  AMERICA. 


arrows,  he  says,  "they  gave  such  horrible  shouts  and  ' 
screcclios  as  so  many  infcrnall  hell-hounds  could  not  haue 
made  them  more  terrible."  During  the  whole  perform- 
ance, "their  actions,  voyces,  and  gestures,  were  so  strained 
to  the  height  of  their  quality  and  nature,  that  the  strange- 
nesse  thereof  made  it  seenv^  very  delightful."  Their 
martial  nuisie  consisted  of  the  discordant  sounds  produced 
bv  rude  drums  and  rattles. 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

CONDUCT  OF  EAULY  VOYAliKKS — AHKIVAL  OF  THE    MAY-FLOWER — 

SAMOSET TlSqilANTUM — MASSASOIT — WESTOn's  COLONY 

CAUNBITANT's  CONSIMKACY TRADE   IN  FIRE-ARMS 

THOMAS  MORTON DEATH  OF  MASSASOIT  AND 

ALEXANDER,  AND  ACCESSION  OF  PHILIP. 

"  Erewhile,  where  yon  g;iy  spin's  their  brightness  rear, 
Trt'c's  waved,  and  the  brown  iiunter's  slionts  were  loud 
Amid  tlie  forest ;  and  tlie  bounding  deer 
Fled  at  tlie  glancing  pluiue,  and  the  gaunt  wolf  yelled  near." 

Bryant. 

It  is  lamentable  to  reflect  that  in  the  primitive  dealings 
between  the  venturous  Europeans  and  aborigines  of  Amer- 
ica, the  kindly  welcome  and  the  hospitable  reception  were 
the  part  of  the  savage,  and  troacherv,  kidiKipi)ing  and 
murder  too  frequently  that  of  the  civili/cd  and  nominally 
Christian  visitor. 

It  ajipears  to  have  been  matter  of  common  (ustom 
aiiKHig  lli(>se  unscrupulous  adventurers  to  seize  by  force 
or  ihtiul  on  the  persons  of  their  simple  entertainers,  and 
to  (tarry  them  oil'  as  curiosities  to  tlie  distant  shores  ()f 
Europe,  ('olumbns,  with  kiii<lly  motives,  brought  several 
of  the  West  Indian  iiati\i'sto  the  Spanish  ecmrt; — others, 
whom  his  follower  i'in/.on  hail  kidnapped,  he  restored 
to  their  friends.  Caliot,  in  his  memorable  (wpedition, 
followed  the  same  example,  and  the  early  Krench  discov- 


y>'ri':  '1 


""  mmm 


<l\  ■  ■.  ■  t  ■■■{11 


fly 


■'i 


,  |.  ■  ,       ..     i-  ■■■■i<J 

■■■  ■'    c  ,' --'Wl 


'I-, 


."'tl 


.  ■    I.. 


^!  ■t''  V 


\h  ' 


■rh-Jij!: 


i3?Si|V'' ''. 


i:'"-  r^ 


<^"^r. 


/   '] 


^1 


^.i^'^mi 


200 


IXniAX  HAi'ES  OF  AMKUICA. 


crcrs  Avere  iKTuli;irl\'  eul]>;il 
cious  of  all    \va.-'   the   co 


)U'  111  I  his  1 


V'SPCH 


f.     ^Fost 


mluct  ol'  'riiiuiias   Ihiiil,  \vi 


;itro- 
K),  ill 


1('14,  iit  Monliignii,  enticed  tweiity-ibiir  oi'  t\\v<r  unrorlii- 
iiale  people  on   board   his  vessel,    and  carried    them   to 


Mai 


iga,   iis  s 


WilIC 


lavcs- 
h  the  English 


-an   iidiumaii    [)icc( 

wrre  iii'ohalilv  iiuh'li 


ol'    Ircachcfv,    ti 


Wd  1 


evincei 


I    1 


V    the 


or  inih'h  nl' 


Indians    ot 


the    sul>se(piiMit    liostihtK 
New  Knu'laiid. 

On  the  Othoi'Sepleinber,  l-,2(),  the  May-Klower,  I'reighted 
wiih  Ibrtv-oiie  adventiii'diis  enthusiasts,  the  genu  of  a 
weslern  eiiipiri',  sailed    l'''oni    I'lvniouih   in    i'lnglaiid;   and 


on   tlie 


ilth  (.1'  the   i; 


.iWlll'. 


X 


oveiiiher  ari'i\-e(i.  on 


lie 


b 


iri'cn  am 


I  iuelenieut  shon 


>r  Cape  Cod.  A  11 'W  days 
afterwards  a  reconuoiteriiig  party  caught  sight  ff  a  .-mall 
uniiiber  of  the  natives,  who,  ho\vevi>r,  lied  at  their  ap- 
pri'aeh.     On  llii'  8th  of  Deceuiber,  a  slight  and  dcsnlt 

Indians  atti'inpting  to  sni'prisi,'  t! 


Mr\- 


action    occurred 


th 


1' 


iliiriius  bv  niLilit 


hev  Avere,  however,  d'icoinlited  am 


coiiiiielled  to  retreat,  leaving,  among  other  trojihii'S,  eighl- 


ecu  arrows, 


'liead(.Ml  with  brass,  some  with  hartsdmi'is, 


and  others  v.itli  eagles'  el 
On   thr   llth   of  Dee 


uvs. 


em;)(M' 


(< ).   S.),   uiemorablc  in  the 


nil 


[lis  of  Anieric'a,  tl 


htl 


e  hand  ol 


pilgrims  land 


ed,  and 


fixed  tlieir  hr 


4  settlement  at  Plymouth.     The  Indians,  it 


WuUU 


1  a]ipcar,  looheil  Avitli  evil  eyes  upon  the  { 


111  HIS  l'(  ilo- 


nists;   Ibr,  savs  an  old  narraliu',  "tliev  iiot  al 


lie  powaws 


in  the  country,  wl 


10,  ibr  thrtx' 


lys  toLi-etlier,  in  a  horn 


and  devilish  maiiin'r,  ilid  curse  and  exerrate  '''..m  widi 
tlieir  conjuratioiis,  Avhich  assembly  and  seryice  thev  held 
in  a  dark  and  dismal  swami).  Behold  how  Satan  labored 
to  hinder  the  gospel  IVoui  coming  into  Xew  Knglaud." 

The  aj)pearancc  of  the  friendly  chief  Samoset,  at  the 
settleineut;  his  welcome  in  br.>ken  Miuili-h;   his  inanners, 


aiK 


I  discourse;  are  ([luiintly  detailed  by  thr  historians  of 


tlie  colony.     He  liatl  ac(piiied  some   \ 


siiowlcdw   u 


)f  tl 


le 


A   ■';'■(. 


?«!,>■')-■ 


i     I!" 


f 
I 


i.vrr  11  r / r:  n-    of    > . / .1/ o  n  k /■    it  1  r  11    r  11  r    r 


/ 1,  a  u  /.»/». 


\Mn,U:- 


Englisl] 

tci\s  of 

readily 

n'Huii'tM 

iiiliahiti 

the  (listi 

only  fu 

circuins 

owofl  it.' 

JJclbr 

tlie  oiilj 

original 

li;itiii-:il 

tious  lie 

and  iiicii 

\vant  of; 

advcutu] 

jl'  lli(,'  (•( 

1 1  w; 
cati'>ii  u 
veiitioii 
II 


i> 


11: 


eoin])iii 
one  oi' 
jieriod. 
liis  ac(|u 
great  sc 
iiiiti 
on  his 
an  exj 
snpiilies 
inici'cst 
viecaliK 
ivstorat 
."istanec 
where  li 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


201 


English  language  bj^  intercourse  with  the  crews  and  mas- 
ters of  vessels  employed  in  fishing  n])on  the  coast,  and 
readily  comniuuieated  such  inroniuitioii  as  the  settlers 
reijuired  concerning  the  nature  of  the  country  and  its 
inliabitants.  Ue  inlonniMl  them  of  the  manner  in  which 
the  district  where  tliey  were  located  liad  been  dei)()pulated 
only  four  years  })revions,  by  some;  incural)le  disease;  a 
circumstance  to  which  tlie  leeble  colony  not  improbably 
owed  its  preservation. 

IV'fore  tlie  bold  and  friendly  advances  made  by  Samoset, 
tlie  only  communication  between  the  colonists  and  the 
original  iidiabitants  had  been  of  a  hostile  character.  The 
natural  iears  and  jealousy  of  the  savages,  and  the  supersti- 
tious hori'or  of  the  English  at  the  heathenish  powwaws 
and  incantations  wliich  they  witnessed,  together  with  the 
want  t)f  a  common  language,  had  kept  the  little  company  of 
alvcntureis  in  a  state  of  complete  isolation  duringthe  whole 
jf  the  cold  and  dreary  winter  that  succeeded  their  arrival. 

It  was  in  the  month  of  March  that  a  })eace('ul  comnuuii- 
cation  was  established  with  the  natives,  through  the  inter- 
vention of  Samoset.  He  introduced,  among  other  of  his 
ciiinjianioiis,  the  noted  Tisquantum,  or  Sipianto,  who  was 
one  of  the  twenty-four  kidnapped  by  Hunt,  ;it  a  former 
period.  IW  his  knowledge  of  the  country  and  coast,  and 
his  accpiaintance  with  their  language,  Squanto  became  of 
great  service  to  tlu^  colonists,  and  continued  their  friend 
until  his  death,  which  took  jilace  in  1622,  while  he  was 
on  his  passage  down  the  coast,  in  the  e.ipacity  of  pilot  to 
an  expedition  fitted  out  for  the  purpose  of  jiurchasing 
supplies  of  ccjrn  and  other  necessaries.  Afuch  of  romantic 
interest  attaches  lo  the  history  and  adventures  of  this  ser- 
viceable Indian,  both  during  his  ca})tivity  and  after  his 
restoration  tt)  his  own  country.  Escaping  by  the  as- 
sistance of  certain  kindly-disposed  monks,  fi'om  Sj)ain, 
where  he,  with  his  companions,  had  been  sold  in  slavery, 


1i'-, 


!i  I' 


(       .1 


'\ 


'M 


I 
] ' 


(•  rl 


,s 


^.f.  ,..,,d.,,.J 


,1  );-"•'•" 


202 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMElilCA. 


he  roachod  Kn.ujlaiul,  and  was  taken  into  tlio  ontiployment 
of  a  London  merchant,  nanuvl  Slaney,  by  whom  ho  wjiti 
sent  as  pilot,  or  in  some  other  capaeity,  to  various  places 
on  the  eastern  eoast. 

He  was  l)rou,L,dit  back  to  Patuxet,  the  Indian  name;  of 
the  country  in  which  the  pilgrims  first  huided,  by  Captain 
'Hionins  Dermer,  who  sailed  in  the  employ  of  Sir  Kcrdi- 
nando  (lorges,  during  the  summer  preceding  the  arrival 
of  the  May- Flower.  After  his  introduction  by  Sanioset, 
he  rcuuiined  with  his  new  allies,  instructing  them  in  the 
i!io(h'  of  raising  corn,  to  which  they  were  strangers;  in  the 
best  methods  of  fishing;  and  making  himself  of  inestima- 
ble service. 

By  the  friendly  influence  of  Squanto  and  Samosct,  who 
acted  as  iiitcr])reters,  a  league  of  amity  and  mutual  pio- 
toction  was  (>ll'ected  l)et\vecn  tlic  colony  and  the  poweifnl 
sachem  Massasoit,  father  of  tlie  still  more  celebrated  IMiilij). 
Massasoit's  head-quarters  were  at  Mount  IIoj)C,  on  Xarra- 
gansett  bay,  overlooking  the  present  town  of  Bi'istol ;  a 
striking  feature  in  a  landscape  of  renuirkable  beauty,  and 
conunanding  from  its  summit  a  magnificent  prospect  of 
island,  bay  and  ocean.  His  authority  extended  over  all 
the  Indian  tribes  living  in  the  vicinity  of  the  PlymoiUJi 
colony,  and  he  held  an  uncertain  but  inlluential  sway  over 
portions  of  other  nations  far  into  the  interior. 

In  the  month  of  July,  1()21,  some  of  the  nrincipal 
inhabitants  of  the  settlement,  among  others,  Edward 
AVinslow  and  Stephen  lIo})kins,  went  on  an  embassy  to 
the  court  of  this  chief,  as  well  to  observe  his  power  and 
resources  as  to  renew  the  amicable  treaties  betbre  entei'e(l 
into.  Tlicy  carried  such  attractive  ornaments  and  apparel 
as  wouhl  please  the  eye  of  a  savage. 

They  were  accomjtanicd  by  Squanto;  and  although  their 
entertainnient,  both  as  rcsitects  Ibod  and  lodgings,  was  but 
Borry,  yet  they  were  recciv^ctl  in  a  spirit  of  ii'ieiulliness. 


succeedi 


NEW  ENflLANI)  INDIANS. 


203 


They  obtained  nmcli  ii.si'fiil  information  conccrninf^  tlie 
sviiToiuidiMj,'  tribes,  and  also  learned  the  power  an<l  num- 
bers oC  the  Narrai^ansi'tts. 

H'he  ship  Fortune  ari-ived  at  Plymoutli,  in  the  month 
(,)r  N'ovember,  brinirini;-  out  thii'ty-live  emif^rants;  but  no 
])rovisions  ibr  their  support;  in  eonsequenee  of  which,  the 
eolony  was  not  lonijf  after  <.n'eatly  distress(>d  by  want.  I'o 
add  U)  tiieir  troubles  and  fears,  the  Xarra,^ansetts  sent 
lliein  a  liostile  message,  expressed  by  a  bundle  of  arrows 
tied  witli  a  snake  skin.  I'hc  skin  Avas  returned  lilled  with 
bullets,  and  the  ji;overnor  n.ade  the  spirited  rci)ly — "that, 
if  they  loved  war  ratlior  than  peace,  they  might  begin 
when  they  would." 

The  houses  were  thcnceftirth  inclosed  in  palings,  and 
every  precaution  was  taken,  by  watch  and  ward,  to  guard 
against  a  sudden  attack. 

J)uring  the  ensuing  year,  1<)22,  two  ships  were  sent  over 
from  Mngland  by  a  Mr.  'J'homas  Weston,  with  a  consider- 
able nnmluM"  of  colonists;  in  one  of  tlu'm  came  "sixty  lusty 
men.''  A  new  settlement  was  formed  by  them  at  Wesagus- 
quaset,  on  Massachusetts  Bay.  known  as  Weston's  colony. 

^riie  dishonesty  and  wastt'fulness  of  these  new  comers 
produced  very  injurious  cHeets  upon  the  welfare  of  the 
<'()lony  at  large.  The  hostility  of  the  Indians  was  excited 
by  their  depredations,  and,  if  we  may  believe  the  old  nar- 
rations, thev  were  even  base  cnousiii  to  cii'culate  among 
the  natives  false  reports  of  an  intenti(Ui  on  the  part  of  the 
Plymouth  authorities  to  attack  them,  and  forcibly  sci/.e  their 
corn  and  provisions,  the  tinu^  b(>ing  one  of  great  scarcitv. 

Weston's  men  were  in  pos:"essiou  of  a  small  vessel,  in 
which  they  proposed  to  their  Plymouth  neighbors  to  un- 
dertake an  expedition  round  Cajie  Cod,  for  the  i)urpo.se  of 
trading  for  supplies  from  the  natives.  After  two  unsuccess- 
ful attempts,  having  been  delayed  by  rough  Aveather,  they 
succeeded  in  reaching  IS' auset  tuid  ^lattaehiest,  where  they 


■mm 


,.v 


■(     '■  I 


•11, 


.r   .',     ''  .'•  •*'K 


■■;>■■. 


1  ..■  4| 


i   (I 

>i  fl 


■  ■i  H 


:":  ',<  'i' 


y  I'J 


■■>■■ '/:.  "^il-iMi 


of  Ci 

dcstiv 

also. 

distill 

plot. 

the  !•; 

of  iiit 

tlcsi,Hi 

JllOlltl 

liiul  ci 
tlu'ir  I 
Ifaviii 

iSCllt    i( 

low   ai 

liuvc  1 

liistoi'v 

U()i»aii 

III  (I 

Staiidi,- 

sct,  aiii 

ton's  111 

aiiioiio- 

j     This   'rll 
I    tlio  ;;i-| 
'    dcclan 
man's 
lie  is  (' 
Not  |(iii| 
knives 
;uiionu> 
knife  (I 
I  have 
that  ii; 
must  n 
and  by 


^■«i 


»l 


Ni:\V'  ENCiLANl)   INDIANS. 


20o 


of  Ciipcvvack,  or  Maillui'i^  Viiicyanl,  Ibr  llio  purpose  of 
destroying'  Wi'ston's  roloiiy,  iiiid  perhaps  that  at  I'lyiuoutli 
also.  Caunbitaiit,  or  ('orbitanl,  one  o|'  ^^assasoit's  most 
distinguished  subordinate  cliiels,  was  a  piinic  niovi'r  in  this 
plot.  He  had  always  entertaiu(!d  hostile  I'eelings  towards 
the  Mn.uiish,  and  req'arded  their  inerease  and  prosperity  as 
of  I'atal  tendency  to  the  welfare  of  his  own  peo[ile.  Tho 
desii^n  was  made  known  to  some  of  the  ehief  men  of  Ply- 
mouth, \>y  Massasoit,  (whom  the  leaders  of  the  couspiraey 
had  endeavored  to  draw  into  their  plans,)  in  gratitude  for 
their  havin.ii;  ivstored  him  frum  a  dan,L^'rous  titof  siekness. 
Having  been,  as  he  su[i]M)sed,  at  ihe  ])oint  of  death,  ho 
sent  for  assisfanec  to  the  colony,  and  Mr.  i'ldwai'd  Wins- 
low  ami  dohn  Ilamdcn,  (supposed  liv  some  wrilri's  to 
luiv(>  liciMi  the  same  ai'lcrwaids  so  celeln'ated  in  i'higiish 
liistorv  liir  his  resistance  to  royal  cucroaehiniiits)  with 
liohaiiKik  as  interpreter,  were  dispatt'hed  to  his  assistance, 
Tn  oi'di-r  to  check  th(<  pui'[Mise(l  uprising,  Captain  ^lilii'S 
Stamlish,  witli  only  eight  men,  proeeed"d  to  Wesagusipia- 
?v.\,  and  attacking  the  hulians,  in  eonjimction  with  Wes- 
ton's men,  overpowei'ed  them,  killing  si\  of  their  nundier; 
among  the  ivst,  the  noted  and  dangei'ous  Wittuwanuit. 
This  eliief  had  displayed  gi'eat  l.oldn(  ~s  and  spirit.  C)ii 
the  arrisal  •)f  Standish,  he,  with  others  ol'  his  coin]ianv, 
declared  that  ln'  was  in  no  wisi'  i'jnorant  of  the  Mnu'lish- 
man's  intentions,  '"'fell  Standish,'  said  hi\  'we  know 
he  is  come  to  kill  us,  but  let  him  begin  when  he  dare.' 
Not  long  after,  many  would  come  to  the  fort,  and  whet  their 
knives  before  him,  with  many  braving  speeches.  One 
amongst  the  rest  was  by  Wittuwamat's  bragging  he  had  a 
knife  that  on  the  handle  had  a  woman's  face,  but  at  humo 
I  hiiV(>  one  that  hath  killed  both  French  and  English,  and 
that  hath  a  man's  face  upon  it,  and  by  and  by  these  two 
must  marry;  but  this  her(>  by  and  by  shall  see,  and  by 
and  by  cat  but  not  speake."     Of  the  manner  of  this  Ii^- 


MBkL''  • 

'  t'  t'-U 

H^HFt 

■<• ;.  4>R 

Dh^IDI.  ' 

■  •'•,.  ■»(( 

' ' '  '  4r 

H^HD* 

'  '■  ■  *''\f^ 

■  '  i'f 

K' 

u^^K^^' 

,..■»,' 

■'  t 

('"    ;    . 

I:'. 


■i.yn 


I'd 


niisMikv 
been  \)v 
what  till 
(Iriiikiii; 
si'ttiiifT  I 
frisi<iii<r 
This  M; 
was  sci/ 
iiKJiis  ai 
many  p 
yonv  iiK 
Coiiiurti 
tiori  of  t 
both  of 

Morto; 
"llis  t.» 
thctv  \va: 
lor  lii;iii( 
litll(>li..I, 
and  iiini 
riii.L;'  of 
(liaiis  ju'i 

No   V( 

mouth  <• 

we  ha\( 

li>r  the 

duct  (.( 
aii'i'  (ri'oc 
bo  drtai 
In  the 
at  this 
nam,  otb( 
and  .solo 
umitv  wi 


I.' 


NKW  KN(ihANI)  INDIANS. 


207 


iiiisnilc,"  with  11  at!t  of  disonlcrly  coiiipiiiiioiis  win)  had 
hccn  l)i'ou<j;lit  out  in  the  Hiiiiu!  shi[)  with  liiiii.  'riii'.V  spent 
what  they  fJliiiiUMlby  iinhiwlhl  ti'a<lc  in  "vainly  (luairni,!,^  and 
drinking  both  wino  and  strong  li(|iior,s  to  great  excess — 
setting  up  a  May-pole,  drinking  and  (hmeing  al)oiit  it,  and 
IVisking  about  it  liki;  so  many  i'airii-s,  or  I'uries  ratlier." 
'I'liis  May-[)oie  was  cut  down  by  iMKheott,  and  ^blrton 
was  seized  and  sent  to  Kiiglaiid,  where  he  wrote  an  "inl'a- 
inoiis  and  scurrilous  book  '(The  New  Canaan),'  against 
many  godly  and  chicfnieii  of  the  country."  In  lH.'i-'!,  a 
year  memorable  for  the  llrst  Mnglish  settlement  on  the 
Conneetii'Ut,  by  William  Holmes,  in  spile  of  the  op|tosi- 
tion  of  the  Dutch,  a  "pestilent  lever"  carried  oil"  nuniy, 
botli  I'i'  the  colonists  and  Indians  thcicabout. 

Morton,  in  his  "New  Kngland's  Memorial,"  f^Ji.vs  that 
"It  is  to  be  observed  that,  the  sj)ring  In'foi'e  this  sickness, 
then-  was  a  numerous  company  of  flii'S,  which  were  like, 
for  bigness,  unto  wasps  or  liumble-bees;  th(>y  came  out  t)f 
little  holes  in  the  ground,  and  d'.d  eat  up  the  gi'ecii  things, 
and  made  such  a  constant  yelling  noise  as  made  the  woods 
ring  of  them,  and  rcatly  to  ileafen  the  hearers."  Tlu"  In- 
dians prophesied  sickness  from  this  sign. 

No  vci'y  serious  hostilities  occurred  bi-twceu  the  Ply- 
mouth colonists  an<l  the  mitives,  i'rom  the  period  of  w  hich 
w<'  have  been  spi-aking,  until  the  year  ItnlT,  memoialih! 
lor  the  extirpation  of  the  I'eipiols.  The  causes  and  con- 
duct of  this  eam))aign,  marked  as  it  was  by  the  most  sav- 
age fei'ocity  on  the  part  of  both  Indians  and  I'lnglish,  will 
be  detailed  in  a  succee<ling  chai)ter. 

Ill  the  yvwv  ItJoi),  Massasoit,  or,  as  li(>  is  gtMiei'ally  styled 
at  this  piM'iod,  Woosameipien,  brought  his  eldest  son  Mooa- 
nam,  otherwise  calleil  \^^lmsutta,  to  the  court  at  IMymouth, 
and  solenudy  remnvcd  the  former  league  of  peace  and 
amity  with  the  colony. 


I 


»      !      i'   >  '  I 


■'■,)  ' 

'  '.*'' 

?l 

■  \ 

i 

% 

i 

'.■r\  A 


^'iwm 


M 


■■It",., 


208 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMKHIUA. 


After  tlic  death  of  tlio  friendly  and  powerful  saclicm, 
liis  sons  Wanisntta  and  !Metacoinct  continued  their  jn-ofes- 
sion  of  j^ood-will  to\var<l.s  tlie  English.  About  1G5G,  they 
presented  tlieniselvcs  to  the  court  at  Plymouth,  and,  hy 
their  own  request,  received  P'.nglish  names.  AVamsutta 
was  denominated  Alexander,  and  Metacornet,  Philip,  long 
after  a  name  of  terror  to  the  colonies. 

In  1602,  Alexander,  having  been  suspected  of  being 
engaged  with  the  Narragansotts  in  plans  hostile  to  the 
I'higlish  settlers,  was  tuK'en  by  surprise,  and  iorcibly  car- 
ried to  Plvmouth.  This  indignitv  is  said  so  to  have  chafed 
his  ]>rond  spirit,  that  it  threw  him  into  a  fever,  of  which 
he  died  shortly  after.  Contradictory  n^porls  have  been 
handed  down  to  us  concerning  the  manner  of  his  treat- 
ment during  this  brief  caj)tivity,  and  the  circumstances 
attending  his  death. 

Shortly  after  this  event,  Philip,  now  sachem  of  Pocanoket, 
came  to  the  court  at  Plvmouth,  witli  renewed  aeknowlcdii'- 
mcnts  of  subjection  to  the  king  of  Kugland.  and  ju'oiuises 
to  fullil  all  engagements  theretofore  entered  into  by  liitn- 
self,  his  father  and  bi'other.  lie  covenanted,  nu^reover, 
not  to  sell  any  of  his  lands  to  strangors  witluMit  the 
knowledge  arid  consent  of  the  authorities  at  Plymouth. 


si    i",        'I")a. 


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'h; 


A'*'^-! 


I    < 


>     -"J 


1 

i 

a 

« 

■;•^.  ;. 
■  .'■  .'■*■ 

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^'^^ 

H^ii:' 


ttfttii'' 


lii.i^i 


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^  ''i 


t;*"'i 


^     * 


-     vf 

•  'Ml 


THE   NAl 
OLD! 


"D; 
T 
II 
II 

«l 
Ai 
II( 
Si 
II. 
Ai 


The  i.^ 
wliit'h  sti 

liowerf'u 
c'xtoudet 
the  couni 
rated  by 

Their 
goverue( 
nephew 
founder 
always 
towards 
and  exer 
])ower  in 
Canonieu 
of  liis  de 

Mr.  \V 
1. 


■'-  #  ^' 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDIANS.  209 


CHAPTER   II. 

THE   NAItRAGANSETTS — TIIK    PEOUOTS — MURDER    OF   STONE    AND 

OLDHAM ENDICOTt's  EXPEDITION THE  PEQUOT  WAR 

DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  PEQUOT  FORT — THE  TRIBE 
DISPERSED  AND  SUBDUED. 

"Diirk  as  the  frost-nipped  leaves  that  strew  the  ground, 
The  Indinii  Imiitcr  lu-re  liis  slielter  found; 
Il'.'re  cut  his  bow,  and  shaped  his  arrows  true, 
Here  built  his  wigwam  and  his  bark  canoe, 
Speared  the  quick  salmon  leaping  up  the  fall, 
And  sUvv  the  deer  without  tlie  rifle  ball; 
Here  his  young  squaw  her  eradl'ing-tree  would  c'loose. 
Singing  her  chant  to  hush  her  swart  papoose; 
Here  stain  her  (luills,  and  string  her  trinkets  rude, 
And  weave  hur  warrior's  wampum  in  the  wood." 

Brainard. 

Tjie  islands  and  western  shores  of  the  beautiful  bay 
which  still  bears  thei"  name  were,  at  the  time  of  the  first 
European  settlement,  in  the  possession  of  the  great  and 
jiowerful  tribe  of  the  Narragansctts.  Their  dominions 
extended  thirty  or  forty  miles  to  the  westward,  as  far  as 
the  country  of  the  Pequots,  from  wliom  tliey  were  sepa- 
rated by  the  Pawcatuck  river. 

Their  eliief  sachem  was  the  venerable  Canonicus,  who 
governed  the  tribe,  with  the  assistance  and  supjiort  of  his 
nephew  Miantonimo.  The  celebrated  Roger  Williams,  the 
founder  of  the  Rhode  Island  and  Providence  plantations, 
always  noted  for  his  kindness,  justice  and  impartiality 
towards  the  natives,  was  high  in  favor  with  the  old  eliiel', 
and  exercised  an  inOiience  over  him,  without  which  his 
j)ower  might  have  been  fatally  turned  against  the  English, 
Canonicus,  he  informvS  us,  loved  him  as  a  son  to  the  day 
of  his  death. 

Mr.  Williams  had  been  obliged  to  leave  the  colony  at 
14 


,:^;^:VlHl.^•, 


■:,!'■■  I 


i     ,;i    ■".   ,■".  :}t 
.  ■  '  •■•:'  ■  ^1 

:  I'' 


1 


<      Hi 


1'  ,1 


i^        \ 


''4! 


210 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AMERICA. 


tlic  eastward,  in  consequence  of  his  religious  opinions, 
"wliieli  did  not  coincide  witli  those  so  strictly  interwoven 
ivath  the  goveriinient  and  policy  of  the  puritans.  lie  was 
a  man  of  whose  cntcr])rise  and  wisdom  the  state;  whii.'h  he 
iirst  settled  is  justly  prou.',  and  whose  liberal  and  niagnaui- 
mous  disjiosition  stands  out  in  striking  relief  when  com- 
pared with  the  intolerant  aud  narrow-minded  prejudices 
of  his  contemporaries. 

Miantonimo  is  described  as  a  warrior  of  a  tall  and 
connnanding  appearance;  proud  and  magnanimous;  "sub- 
til and  cunning  in  his  contrivenients;"  and  of  undaunted 


courage. 


The  Fequots  and  Mohegans,  who  formed  but  one  tribe, 
and  were  governed  during  the  early  period  of  Knglisli 
colonization  by  one  sachem,  appear  to  have  emigrated 
from  the  west  not  very  long  before  the  iirst  landing  of 
Europeans  on  these  shores.  They  were  entirely  discon- 
nected with  the  surrounding  tribes,  with  wliom  tliev  weiv 
engaged  in  continual  hixstilities,  and  were  said  to  havi^ 
reached  the  country  they  th<-n  inhabited  from  the  north. 
They  ])robably  formed  a  portion  of  the  Mohican  or  Mohe- 
gan  nation  on  the  Hudson,  and  arrived  at  the  sea-coast  by 
a  circuitous  route,  moving  onward  in  search  of  better  hunt- 
ing grounds,  or  desirous  (jf  the  facilities  ibr  procuring 
8U]>p(irt  olfered  by  the  productions  of  the  sea. 

In  var'ous  warlike  incursions  they  had  gained  a  partial 
};o:.>.jssion  of  extetisive  districts  upon  the  Connecticut  river, 
and  from  them  the  early  Dutch  settlers  j)urchascd  the  title 
to  the  lands  they  occu])ied  in  that  region. 

In  the  year  163-i,  one  Captain  Stone,  a  trader  fi'om  A'ir- 
giuia,  of  whom  the  early  narrators  give  rather  an  evil  rejjort, 
having  ])ut  into  the  Connecticut  river  in  a  small  vessel, 
was  killed,  together  with  his  wIkjIc  crew,  by  a  party  of  In- 
dians whom  he  had  sull'ered  to  n^main  on  board  his  vessel. 

Two  years  later,  a  Mr.  John  Oldham  was  murdered  at 


Block 
body  o 
tlie  ves 
hiost  of 
The 
partici]) 
his  con  ij 
edged  t 
3'ct  thej 
murder 
ing  that 
English. 
To  re 
/it ted  oui 
tion  of  d( 
and  of  ei 
engaged 
H»tt,  Ian  J 


NEW  ENGLAND   INDIANS. 


211 


Block  Lsland,  (called  Manisses  in  the  Indian  tongue,)  by  a, 
body  of  natives.  Tlicy  were  discovered  in  possession  of 
the  vessel,  and,  endeavoring  to  make  their  escape,  were 
tiiost  of  them  drowned. 

The  Narragansctts  and  Peqiiots  both  denied  having 
partici])ated  in  this  last  outrage,  and,  as  respects  Stone  and 
his  companions,  although  the  Pequuts  afterwards  acknowl- 
edged that  some  of  their  people  were  the  guilty  parties, 
yet  they  averred  that  it  was  done  in  retaliation  lur  the 
murder  of  one  of  their  own  sachems  by  the  Dutch,  deny- 
ing that  they  knew  any  distinction  between  the  Dutch  and 
English. 

To  revenge  the  death  of  Oldham,  an  ex})edition  was 
litted  out  from  Massachusetts,  with  the  avowed  determina- 
tion of  destroying  all  the  male  inhabitants  of  Block  I>Iaiid, 
and  of  enforcing  heavy  tribute  from  the  Pequots.  'J'liose 
engaged  in  the  undertaking,  under  the  command  o/ Endi- 
cutt,  landed  on  tlu^  island,  ravaged  the  corn-fields,  and 
burned  the  wigwams  of  the  inhabitants;  but  the  islanders 
succeeded  in  concealing  themselves  in  the  thickets,  so  that 
lew  were  killed.  Endieott  thence  proceeded  to  the  Pe(  juot 
country,  notwithstanding  the  remonstrances  of  Gardiner, 
oonnnander  of  "^he  garrison  at  Saybrook,  who  told  him 
that  the  consequence  would  only  be  to  "raise  a  hornet's 
nest  about  their  ears." 

Disembarking  near  the  mouth  of  the  Tliames,  the 
aib'cnturers  were  surrounded  by  a  large  body  of  savages, 
mostly  unarmed,  who  questioned  them  of  their  jjurposes 
with  much  surprise  and  curiosity.  The  English  demanded 
the  murderers,  whom  they  alledged  to  be  harbored  there, 
or  their  heads,  The  Indians  rei)lied  that  their  cliief  sa- 
chem, Sassacus,  was  absent,  and  sent  or  pretended  to  send 
parties  in  search,  of  the  })ersons  demanded.  Endieott, 
impatient  of  delay,  and  suspecting  deceit,  drove  them  olf, 
after  a  slight  skirmish,  and  proceeded  to  lay  waste  theii 


f. 


i 

• 

t 

I   I 


STI 


:-^;p---' 


'    '-Ellis'!!' ^iij 


212 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMEUICA. 


corn-fields  and  wigwams,  destroying  their  canoes  and  doing 
tliem  inealculAble  miscliief. 

Tlie  same  oi)crations  were  carried  on  the  next  day,  uiiou 
the  op[)Orfite  bank  of  the  river,  after  whicli  the  party  sot 
sail  for  home. 

The  ell'ect  of  procc(hires  like  these,  was  such  as  iniglit 
have  been  expected.  The  hostility  of  the  Pecpots  towards 
the  whites  was  from  this  period  implacable. 

For  several  years  the  tribe  had  been  engaged  in  a  desul- 
tory war  Avith  the  Narragansetts,  arising  from  a  (luarrel, 
in  lGo2,  respecting  the  boundary  of  their  respective  do- 
mains. Sassacus  at  once  perceived  tlie  necessity  or  poliey 
of  healing  this  breach,  and  procuring  the  as^nstance  of  his 
powerful  neighboi's  in  the  itUticipated  struggle.  He  tliei\'- 
fore  sent  and)assadors  to  Canonicus,  charged  with  ])r(ipn- 
sals  of  treaty,  and  of  union  against  the  usurj-iiig  Kiiglish. 

A  grand  councnl  of  the  Narragansett  sachems  was  call<'d, 
and  the  messengers,  according  to  Morton,  "used  many 
]»crnicious  arguments  tc  ^ove  them  thereunto,  as  that  the 
English  Avere  strangers,  and  began  to  oversj»read  their 
country,  and  would  deprive  them  thereof  in  time,  if  they 
v/ere  sulfered  to  grow  and  mereiise;"  that  they  need  not 
"come  to  open  battle  Avith  them,  but  fire  tlieir  houses,  kill 
tlieir  cattle,  and  lie  in  ambush  for  them,"  all  with  little 
danger  to  themselves. 

The  Narragansetts  hcsitatcnl,  and  AA'ould  not  improbably 
have  acceded  to  the  projxwals  but  for  the  intervention  and 
])ersuasion  of  their  friend  Roger  "Williams.  His  infiuence, 
combined  Avitli  the  hoi)e,  so  dear  to  an  Indian  heai't,  of 
being  revenged  ujion  their  old  adversaries,  finally  pre- 
vailed. Miantonimo,  Avith  a  nuadjcr  of  other  chiefs  and 
Avarriors,  proceeded  to  lioston;  ^vas  received  Ayith  nuieh 
para<le;  and  concluded  a  treaty  of  firm  alliance  Avith  the 
English,  stipulating  not  to  make  peace  with  the  Pequots, 
Avithout  their  avssent. 


Th 


NEW  ENGLAND   INDIANS. 


213 


Mcantimo,  dnriTijr  tliis  same  year  (1G37),  the  Pcquots 
had  ooiuiiienoed  hostilities  by  attacking  the  settlers  on  the 
Connoetieut.  They  hiy  concealed  about  the  fort  at  Say- 
brook,  ready  to  seize  any  of  the  little  garrison  who  should 
be  found  without  the  walls. 

In  several  instances  they  succeeded  in  making  captives, 
whom  they  tortured  to  death  with  their  usual  savage  ei'u- 
clty.  vVmong  the  rest,  a  "godly  young  man  of  the  name 
of  Butterfield,"  was  taken,  and  roasted  alive. 

I'he  b(jldness,  and  even  temerity  of  the  few  occupants 
of  the  fort,  with  these  horrors  staring  th^m  in  the  face,  is 
surprising.  Gardiner,  their  governor,  m  one  occasion, 
exasperated  a  body  of  Indians  who  had  come  forward  i'or 
a  species  of  parley,  l)y  mocking,  daring,  and  taunting  them 
in  tlieir  own  style  of  irony  and  vituperation. 

The  colonists  appear  to  have  been  even  more  horror- 
stricken  and  enraged  at  the  blasphemous  language  of  their 
wild  opjioneiits,  than  at  their  implacable  cruelty.  When 
they  tortured  a  prisoner,  they  would  bid  him  call  upon  his 
God,  and  mock  and  deride  him  if  he  did  so,  in  a  manner  not 
unlike  that  recorded  in  thecase  of  a  more  illustrious  suiferer. 

They  told  Gardiner  that  they  had  "killed  Phiglishmen, 
and  could  kill  them  like  musquitoes;"  and  that  there  was 
one  among  them  who,  "if  he  could  kill  one  more  Kng- 
lisliman,  would  be  erpial  with  God." 

Josepli  Tilly,  commander  of  a  trading  vessel,  a  man 
described  as  "brave  and  hardy,  but  passionate  and  wilful,'' 
going  on  shore,  incautiously,  and  against  tue  advice  of 
Gardiner,  was  taken  by  the  savages,  and  tortured  to  death 
in  the  most  lingering  and  cruel  manner,  being  partially 
dismembered,  and  slowly  burned  to  death  by  lighted 
splinters  thrust  into  his  flesh.  His  conduct  in  this  ex- 
tremity excited  the  lasting  admiration  of  his  tormentors; 
fer,  lilce  one  of  tlieir  own  braves,  he  endured  all  with 
silent  fortitude. 


.>'^'i'':r  •■ 


'['■■■  y^fr  ■'.:•  J''\ 

■'..•  '■- '  i  "   ■   ■  - '  '',t 
.",■>■■.;..■'•..•;;' 

..::4 


'  'I 


'  .  >  ..'^''  ,■<;'•-:  <.':''■■'  .■,",;J 


■•";'-'!,5> 


'P^l'- 


'■>     ' »  ''.I 


"■'''■'Mi 


2U 


INDIAX   UAOKS  OF  AMEUICA. 


The  Tii(Ii;ms  were  accustomed  to  imitato  and  deride  llie 
cries  and  tokens  of  pain  wliicli  tliey  usually  elicited  from 
the  whites,  as  hi'ing'  unwoi'thy  of  men,  and  tolerable  only 
in  women  or  children. 

In  Ajiril  of  this  year  (1037),  an  attack  was  maile  njioii 
the  villa,!4c  of  Wethersfield,  by  a  body  of  Pequots,  assistrd 
or  led  by  other  Indians  of  the  viehuty,  whose  enmity  had 
been  excited  by  some  unjnst  treatment  on  tlu;  part  of  the 
white  inhabitants.  Three  women  and  six  men  of  the 
colonist.^,  were  killed,  and  cattle  and  other  property  de- 
sti'oyed  or  carried  off  to  a  considerable  extent.  Two  youn<^ 
girls,  dan^hters  of  one  Abraham  Swain,  were  taken  and 
carried  into  caj)tivity.  '^^Fheir  release  was  afterwai'ds  ol)- 
tained  by  some  Dutch  traders,  who  in\'ci,i:,led  a  number  of 
lV(|Uots  on  board  their  vessel,  and  threatiMied  to  throw 
them  into  the  sea  if  the  girls  were  not  delivered  up.  Dur- 
ing the  time  that  these  prisoners  were  in  the  power  of  tli<'. 
Indians,  they  received  no  injury,  but  were  treated  with 
uinform  kindness,  a  circumstance  which,  with  man\-  otiicrs 
of  the  same  nature,  marks  the  character  of  the  barbarians 
as  being  bv  no  means  destitute  of  the  finer  feelings  of 
humanity. 

The  settlers  on  the  Connecticut  now  resolved  uj)on 
active  operations  against  the  Pequot  tribe.  Although  the 
whole  nundx'r  of  whites  u})on  the  river,  capal>le  of  (hung 
military  .service,  did  not  exceed  three  hundred,  a  force  ol' 
ninety  men  was  raised  and  equipped.  Captain  John  Ma- 
son, a  soldier  by  profession,  and  a  bold,  energetic  man, 
was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  expedition,  and  the 
Keverend  ^Ir.  Stone,  one  of  the  first  preacHien  at  llartiord, 
Avho  had  accompanied  his  ]H!ople  across  th.'  .  .i (!rn ess,  at 
the  time  of  the  first  settlement  of  that  to\v  ,  undi-rtcjok 
the  office  of  chaplain— a  jiosition  of  far  greater  importance 
and  responsibility,  in  the  eyes  of  our  forefathers,  than  is 
accorded  to  it  at  the  present  day. 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


215 


Letters  wcro  written  to  tlie  juitlioritics  of  ^fussacliusetts, 
requesting  .assistance,  inasniuch  as  tlie  war  was  owing,  in 
no  .small  measure,  to  tlie  ill-ad  vised  and  worse-eonc^iieted 
expedition  sent  fbrtli,  as  we  liave  before  described,  by  that 
colony.  The  required  aid  was  readily  furnished,  and  a 
considerable  body  of  men,  under  the  eonnnand  ol'  Daniel 
Patrick,  was  sent  to  the  Xarragansett  sachem,  to  pioeure 
Lis  eoo}>eration,  and  afterwards  to  join  the  forces  ol'  Mason. 

The  little  army  was  I'urther  increased  by  the  addition 
of  a  party  of  Indians,  led  by  a  chief  afterwards  so  ce'e- 
brated  in  the  annals  of  the  colony,  as  to  deserve  more 
than  a  casual  mention  upon  the  occasion  of  this,  his  lirst 
introduction  to  the  reader. 

lliicas,  a  sachem  of  the  Mohegaiis,  whom  we  have  be- 
fore mentioned  as  forming  a  portion  of  the  I'cipKjt  tribe, 
had,  some  time  previous  to  the  events  which  we  are  now 
recording,  rebelled  against  the  authority  of  Sassacus,  his 
su))erior  sachem,  to  whom  he  was  connected  by  ties  of 
alHnity  and  relationship. 

lie  is  described  as  having  been  a  man  of  great  strenui;h 
and  courage,  but  grasping,  cunning,  and  treaclierous,  and 
possessed  of  little  of  that  magnanimity  which,  though 
counterbalanced  by  faults  peculiar  to  his  race,  distinguished 
his  im])lacal)le  foe,  Miantonimo  the  Narragansett. 

With  his  followers,  a  portion  of  whom  were  Mohegans, 
and  the  rest,  as  is  sup[)osed,  Indians  from  the  districts  on 
the  Connecticut,  who  had  joined  themselves  to  his  fortunes, 
Uncas  now  made  ct)mmon  cause  with  the  whites  against 
his  own  nation.  CJardiner,  the  comnumdant  at  Saybrook, 
to  test  his  fidelity,  dispatched  him  in  pursuit  of  a  small 
party  of  hostile  Indians,  whose  position  he  liad  ascertained. 
Uncas  accomplished  his  mission,  killing  a  portion  of  them, 
and  returning  with  one  prisoner.  This  captive  the  In- 
dians were  allowed  by  the  English  to  torture  to  death,  and 
they  proceeded  to  pull  him  a.sunder,  ftistening  one  leg  to 


^'^i.::.: 


t'i  V 


1           '          I 

■'     ) 

'. 

1  't 

i''-. 

■      1 

I'll 


:(,^i*;i 


■"-.  — ^:'liP 

'!■■. ''  i '■■■■■  ml 


IIP 


216 


INDLVN  KACES  OF  A5[ERICA. 


a  post,  and  tyiii<!;  a  rope  to  the  otlier,  of  which  tliey  laid 
hold.  Undcrhill,  clsewheiv  cluu'a(-'tei  izod  as  a  "bold,  bad. 
mail,"  had,  on  this  occasion,  tiie  liuiiianity  to  ahortcu  the 
tonnoiit  of  the  vietiiu  by  a  pistol-shot. 


The  plan  of  campaign  adopted  by  Mason,  after  mncli 
debate,  \V'as  to  sail  for  tlic  country  of  the  Narragansetts, 
and  there  disend)arkiiig,  to  come  upon  the  enemy  by  laud 
from  an  unexpected  direction. 

Canonicus  and  Miantoiutno  received  the  jxirty  in  a 
friendly  manner,  a])proving  the  design,  but  prollering  no 
as -distance. 

Intelligence  was  here  received  of  the  a})j)roach  of  Cap- 
tain I'atrick  and  his  men  from  Massuchusetts,  but  ^lasmi 
determined  to  lose  no  time  by  Avaiting  for  their  arrival, 
lest  information  of  the  movement  should  in  tlu'  meantime 
reach  the  camp  of  the  Pequots.  The  next  day,  therefore, 
which  was  the  4tli  of  June,  the  vessels,  in  which  the  com- 
])any  had  arrived  from  Saybrook,  set  sail  Jbr  Pcquot  river, 
manned  by  a  few  whites  and  Indians,  while  the  main 
body  proceeded  on  their  march  across  the  country.  About 
sixt}'  Indians,  led  by  Uncas,  were  of  the  l>arty. 

A  large  body  of  Narragansetts  and  Xehantics  attcidcd 
them  on  their  march,  at  one  time  to  the  nundjcr,  as  was 
su]){K)sed,  of  nearly  live  hundred.  In  Indian  style,  they 
made  great  demonstration  of  valor  and  determination ;  but 
as  they  approached  the  liead-quarters  of  the  terrible  tribe 
that  had  held  them  so  long  in  awe,  their  hearts  began  to 
fail.  Many  slunk  away,  and  of  those  who  still  hung  in 
the  rear,  none  but  Uncas  and  Wcquash,  a  Nehantic  sachem, 
were  ready  to  share  in  the  danger  of  the  first  attack. 

The  Pequot  camp  was  upon  tlic  siimmit  of  a  high 
rounded  hill,  still  known  as  Pequot  hill,  in  the  present 
town  of  Groton,  and  was  considered  by  the  Indians  as 
impregnable.     The  people  of  Sassacus  had  seen  the  Eng- 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


217 


lish  vopsolfl  pjips  l)y,  and  supposed  tliat  danger  was  for  the 
present  averted.  After  a  great  feast  an<l  dance  of  exulta- 
tion at  their  safety  and  success,  the  can\})  was  sunk  in 
glee})  and  silence.  ■  !Mason  and  his  men,  who  had  encamped 
among  some  rocks  near  the  head  of  Mystic  river,  ap- 
proached the  I'erpiot  fortification  a  little  before  da}',  on 
the  ftth  of  June. 

The  alarm  was  first  given  by  the  barking  of  a  dog, 
followed  by  a  cry  from  some  one  within,  of  "Owaniix, 
Owann.x." — the  Indian  term  for  Englishmen — upon  which 
the  besiegers  ruslied  tl)r\\ard  to  the  attack. 

The  fort  was,  as  usual,  inclosed  with  thick  palisades,  a 
narrow  entrance  being  left,  which  was  barred  by  a  pile  of 
brushwood,  breaking  through  this,  Mason  and  his  com- 
panions (ell  upon  the  startli'd  Pcrpiots,  and  maintained  for 
soiiic  time  an  uncertain  hand  to  hand  conflict,  until,  nil 
order  being  Inst,  he  came  to  the  savage  determination  to 
fu'c  ihe  wigwams.  1'his  was  done,  and  the  dry  materials 
of  wliii'li  tliesi'  rude  dwellings  were  composed  blazed  with 
fearful  rapiility. 

The  warriors  fought  desperately,  but  their  bow-strings 
snapped  from  the  heat,  and  the  Xarragansetts,  now  coming 
up,  killed  all  who  attemj)ted  to  escape.  The  scene  within 
was  horrible  beyond  description.  The  whole  number 
destroyed  (mostly  l)y  the  flanu>s)  was  suppo.sed  to  Ix;  over 
four  hundred,  no  small  portion  of  which  consisted  of 
women  and  children. 

The  spirit  of  the  times  cannot  be  better  portrayed  thau 
by  citing  the  description  of  this  tragedy  given  by  Moilon: 
"At  this  time  it  was  a  fearful  sight  to  sec  them  thus  fry- 
ing in  the  fire,  and  the  streams  of  blood  (pienching  the 
same;  and  horrible  was  the  stink  and  scent  thereof;  but 
the  victory  seemed  a  sweet  sacrifice,  and  they  gave  the 
praise  thereof  to  God,  who  had  wrought  so  wcjiidcrfully 
ibr  them,  thus  to  enclose  their  enemies  in  their  hands,  and 


t-.: 


<■  ■'•,"  f 


M 


mm 


>,.      ;"'•■■:  "•»,j|iii-,iiji£ 


218 


INIHAX  |{A('i;S  OF  AMKiaCA. 


give  tliom  so  sjiopdy  n  victory  over  so  jin^iul,  insnltiiifr  iiuil 
l)l!isiili('iii<>iis  nil  (MK'iny."  Dr.  [iiorciiso  Mtitlicr,  in  iniicli 
i\\r.  siiiiic  vt'iii,  siiys:  "Tliis  diiy  wc  brought  .^i\'  IiiiihIihmI 
Iiidiiiii  souls  to  lu'll." 

Ill  Idokiug  back  ii[)oii  this  iiiHssacrc,  althougli  iiiucli 
allowance  must  bo  made  for  the  rudeness  oi'  the  age,  and 
the  circumstances  of  terror  and  anxiety  which  surrdunded 
the  early  settlers,  yet  we  must  confess  tliat  here,  as  on 
otlicr  occasions,  tlicy  exhibitcMJ  the  utmost  unscrupulous- 
ness  as  to  the  rneuna  by  which  u  desired  end  should  ho 
ai'complished. 

The  loss  of  the  n.ttacking  party  in  this  engagement  was 
trilling  in  the  extrcMuc,  only  two  of  their  iiumlier  bein^ 
killed,  and  about  twenty  wounded.  Captain  Patrick  with 
his  sohbers  from  Massachusetts,  did  n(jt  reach  the  seeno 
of  action  in  time  to  take  part  in  it — Underhill,  however, 
with  twenty  men,  was  of  the  party. 

Tlu!  I'csult  of  this  conllict  was  fatal  to  tlic  Pequots  as  a 
nation,  ^VHer  a  few  unavailing  attempts  to  revenge  their 
wrongs,  they  burned  their  remaining  caini),  and  com- 
menced their  flight  to  the  haunts  of  their  forefatliers  ut 
tlu"  westward. 

They  were  closel}'  pursu(>d  by  the  whites  and  their 
Indian  allies,  and  hunted  and  destroyed  like  wild  beasts. 
Till- last  imiiortantengagcment  was  in  a  swamp  at  Kairlield, 
where  they  were  com[)letely  overcome.  Most  (jftlie  war- 
riors were  slain,  fighting  l)ravcly  to  the  last,  and  the  women 
and  children  were  distributed  as  servants  among  the 
colonists  or  shi))])(>(l  as  slaves  to  the  West  Indies;  "  Wc 
send  the  male  children,"  says  Winthrop,  "to  Hunnuda,  by 
^h.  William  Pierce,  and  the  Avomcn  and  maid  children 
are  dispersed  about  in  tlic  towns."  It  is  satisfactory  to 
reflect  tli.'it  these  wild  domestics  proveil  rather  a  source 
of  annoyance  than  service  to  their  enslavers. 

Sassacus,  Mononotto,  and  a  few  other  Pc»|uot  warriors, 


ileatli,  ui 
The  n 


fluccecdo 

however 

L'atli 

Till 

iiccticut, 

Many  of 

I'Mcas;  f 

ami  Moll 

ilelil)erat( 

The  CO 

had  been 

hlood  sho 

ill  retaiiiii 

iiig  the  ])c 

he  so  assic 


QUAHRELS 


A  s^L\lJ 
attenijjt  tol 
sent  againf 
sioiis  wcrej 
The  desl 
of  countrj 
Uncas  lani 
The  j)owe 
had  becoil 
treaty  an.tl 
addition   ti 


i       i    ' « I 


NEW  EXr.r.AIs'D  IXDL\:s-S. 


219 


Buccoodod  in  cfTcctiiii,' their  cscapn  to  tlio  'Nfolifiwlcs,  wlio, 
liDWcver,  put  the  suclioiii  and  iiicst  of  his  c()mj)aiii()ii.s  to 
death,  cither  to  ol)]i<((!  the  l^liiglish  or  the  Narra<,'ansi'tts. 

The  members  of  the  tribe  who  still  remained  in  Con- 
necticut, were  linally  brought  into  complete  subjection. 
Many  of  them  joined  the  forces  of  the  now  ])owerlul 
I'lieas;  others  were  distributed  between  the  Narraganstitts 
anil  Mohegans;  and  wo  small  number  were  tukeu  and 
deliberately  nuussaered. 

The  colonial  authorities  demanded  that  all  Pequots  who 
had  been  in  any  way  concerned  in  shedding  Knglish 
blood  should  be  slain,  and  Uncas  had  no  small  dllliculty 
ill  retaining  his  usei'iil  allies,  and  at  the  same  time  satisfy- 
ing the  powerful  strangei's  whose  patronage  aud  proteetiou 
he  so  assiduously  courted. 


CllAPTKR   III. 

QUAKRELS     HKTWKEN    THE    NAUrvAOANSETTS     AM)     MOHEGANS 

UNCAS  AND    MIANTONIMO TUE    MOHEGAN    LAND  CON- 

il  TKOVERSY — SUnSEqiJENT  CONDITION  OF  THE 

1 1  I'EQUOTS    AND    MOHEGANS. 

A  SMALL  body  of  the  Pequots  made  one  more  futile 

,  attempt  to  settle  in  their  old  country;  but  a  company  was 
sent  against  them,  and  they  were  driven  off;  their  i)rovi- 

I    sioiis  were  ])lundered,  and  their  wigwams  destroyed. 

The  destruction  of  this  powerful  tribe  left  a  large  extent 
of  country  unoccujiied;    to  no  small  portion  of  which 

,!    Uucas  laid  claim  by  virtue  of  his  relationshi})  to  Sassacus. 

.\  The  power  and  influence  of  this  subtle  and  warlike  chief 
had  become,  by  this  time,  vastly  extended,  not  only  by 
treaty  ar.>l  alliance  with  the  Europeans,  but  by  continual 
addition  to  the  number  of  his  warriors;  as  many  strag- 


'.  V 


•  'I 

'  ■'  .■  1,:, 


J      I 


•         ,  '      ■■.,,      .    :.:,    .|t'.,  I  ■■i't' 


'  •       ,1,.,  ■.  v!..tUjja 


220 


INDIAN  IIACES  OF  AMERICA. 


gling  Pcquots,  and  wanderers  irom  other  tribes,  were 
eager  to  join  liis  rising  fortunes. 

Between  him  and  Miantonimo,  old  feelings  of  jealousj'^, 
rivalry,  and  national  antipathy  were  now  aroused  anew 
by  various  acts  of  petty  hostility  and  mutual  treachery. 
Uncas  and  his  followers  succeeded  in  exciting  in  the  minds 
of  the  English  a  deep  and  abiding  mistrust  of  the  Narra- 
gansettF,  which  Miantonimo,  upon  repeated  citations  before 
tlie  Court  at  Plymouth,  Avas  unable  wholly  to  remove. 
His  wisdom,  cautiousness,  and  sagacity,  excited  the  ad- 
miration of  all  who  heard  him,  but,  with  all  his  tact,  he 
failed  to  convince  the  authorities  of  his  good  faith  and 
innocent  intentions. 

The  animosity  of  the  two  chiefs  at  last  broke  out  into 
open  hostilities.  Miantonimo,  accompanied,  as  was  com- 
puted, by  over  nine  hundred  warriors,  came  suddenly 
upon  Unoas,  Avho  was  supported  by  only  about  half  that 
number  of  eifectivc  followers.  Before  joining  battle,  the 
Molicgan  sachem  challenged  his  opponent  to  single  combat, 
proposing  that  the  vanquished  party  should,  with  his  men, 
submit  to  the  victor. 

Miantonimo  refusing  to  accede  to  this  proposal,  Uncas, 
according  to  a  preconcerted  signal,  prostrated  himself;  and 
his  warriors,  discharging  a  flight  of  arrow",  rushed  forward 
with  such  impetuosity  that,  despite  the  disparity  of  num- 
bers, they  completely  routed  the  Narragansetts,  and  drove 
them  from  the  field. 

The  chief  of  the  invaders  was  taken  prisoner  in  his 
flight  by  Uncas  himself,  assistec  by  two  other  warriors. 
He  had  been  impeded  in  his  motions  by  an  old  corslet, 
a  piece  of  defensive  armor  which  had  been  prescnied  to 
him  by  an  English  friend,  but  which  proved  fatal  to  hiin. 
Seeing  that  resistance  was  hopeless,  he  seated  himself  upou 
the  ground,  with  true  Indian  stoicism  and  silence. 

Uncas  took  his  prisoner  to  Hartford,  and  requested  the 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


221 


advice  of  tlie  authorities  as  to  what  course  he  should  pur- 
sue respecting  him.  They  referred  the  question  to  tlie 
general  court  of  commissioners  for  New  England,  which 
sat  at  Boston,  in  September  (1043).  The  court,  unwilling 
to  undertake  the  responsibility  oi  ordering  the  death  of 
the  illustrious  captive,  submitted  the  matter  to  the  decision 
of  the  clei'gy,  then  in  high  council  at  the  same  city.  These 
worthies,  less  scrupulous  than  the  laity,  came  to  the  con- 
clusion that  his  life  must  pay  the  forfeit  of  his  attacks 
upon  Uncas,  and  his  general  turbulence,  not  to  mention 
til-  fact  that  he  had,  in  one  instance,  beaten  a  follower  of 
a  saelienx  who  was  allied  to  the  English! 

Tlie  unfortunate  sachem  was  therefore  redelivered  into 
the  hands  of  the  Mohegans  for  execution,  and  two  of  the 
English  were  appointed  to  attend  the  proceeding,  and  see 
that  he  was  j)ut  to  death  without  torture.  There  is  some 
discrepancy  in  the  accounts  as  to  the  place  where  Mianto- 
nimo  met  his  fiite,  but  it  appears  to  have  been  in  the 
township  of  Norwich,  where  a  pile  of  stones  was  long 
after  pointed  out  iis  marking  his  grave.  The  manner  of 
his  death  was  this :  Uncas,  with  his  brother,  Wawerpia,  and 
a  party  of  other  Indians,  accompanied  by  the  two  whites, 
was  leading  his  prisoner  along  a  path,  when,  at  a  silent 
signal  from  the  chief,  Waweqna  buried  his  tomahawk  in 
the  skull  of  the  cai)tive  from  behind.  It  is  said  that  Uncas 
cut  a  portion  of  flesh  from  the  shoulder  of  his  fallen  en- 
emy, and  eat  it,  declaring  that  it  was  the  ''sweetest  meat 
he  ever  eat;  it  made  his  heart  strong." 

The  Narragansetts  lamented  bitterly  over  the  untimely 
end  of  their  famous  and  beloved  saehem,  and  complained 
of  the  treachciy  of  Uncas,  averring  tliat  large  quantities  of 
wampum  had  been  sent  as  ransom  to  the  Mohegans,  and 
appropriated  by  them,  regardless  of  the  conditions  attend- 


mg  its  mission. 


Pessacus,  a  brother  of  Miantonimo,  continued  to  make 


I  ^     ^      It 


<    >l 

<  ^1 


v^r 


••  I 


>f.!  > 


,  <^^  1- 


I 


I    If 


'  I,'    "-        ,»!  '         ■• 


—1 


222 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AMERICA. 


troublesome  inroads  upon  the  Mohegan  domains,  but  tlie 
English  still  held  Uncas  in  fovor,  and  warned  the  Narra- 
gansetts  that  they  would  support  him  should  he  re{j^uire 
their  aid. 

In  1044,  the  complaints  and  mutual  recriminations  of  the 
rival  tribes  were  heard  and  examined  by  the  commissioners 
of  the  colonies,  who  decided  that  Pessacus  had  not  proved 
his  charges,  and  enforced  a  temporary  treaty.  This  was  soou 
violated  by  the  Narragansctts,  who  continued  their  dei)rc- 
datit)ns  as  heretofore;  and  in  the  ensuing  spring,  Pessacus, 
having  don'^  great  damage  to  his  oi)poncnt  by  predalos  v 
excursions,  fiiMdl}'  besieged  him  in  a  fort  on  the  Tluui.>'., 
where  he  wouldprobably  have  reduced  him  by  I'ainine,  had 
not  supplies  been  secretl  v  furnished  by  certain  uf  the  Kuglish. 

The  tyi'anny  and  exactions  of  I  ncas  over  the  l\'4U()ts 
Avho  hail  become  subject  to  him,  aroused  tlieir  iudigiialiou; 
while  his  treachery  towards  his  own  people,  and  alliance 
with  the  whites,  secured  him  the  hostility  of  every  neigh- 
boring tribe.  He  was  engaged  in  perpetual  (•[uarrels  with 
Kinigret,  a  celelirated  Nehantic  sachem;  with  Sc([nasseii, 
whose  authority  at  an  cai'lic-r  dale  extcMuled  over  tlie 
Tunxis  tribe,  at  the  westward  of  the  Connecticut;  and 
with  the  grieved  and  revengeful  Narragansctts. 

AVhenevcr  these  interminable  disputes  were  brouglit 
before  the  court  of  the  New  England  commissioners,  the 
decisions  of  that  body  ap])ear  to  have  favoi'cd  the  Mo- 
hegan. Assisted  liy  the  counsel  of  a  crafty  and  subtle 
Indian,  named  I'oxun  or  Poxen,  who  scrveil  him  in  the 
capacity  of  ciiicf  advocate  and  adviser,  and  whose  wisooin 
and  sagacity  were  widely  noted,  he  generally  managed  to 
explain  away  his  ini'iuities;  at  least  so  far  as  to  satisfy  an 
audience  already  prejudiced  in  hi.  .avor.  When  his  erimcs 
were  not  to  be  concf'aled,  a  reprimand  and  caution  were 
generally  the  extent  f)f  lij;'  punishment. 

Ou  the  other  hand,  when  susjucions  arose  against'>thc  Nar- 


raganse 

resortet. 

was  exi 

principf 

war  ant 

iate  tliei 

In  Se^ 

had  not 

j)laco  bj 

eastern  f 

sc])arate 

-|       This  h 

{   tion,  had 

sell-eonst 

siiiament, 

of  NiniuT 

I       ^J'lu.yl, 

'■  allotted  t(j 

payment 

adoption 

vuTe  to  lid 

CassinniiKi 

It  will 
and  contn 
in  tlieir  vl 
The  nativi 
tion  of  till 
former  hoi 
bee"  KG  si  I 
I       It  is  pit 
Jioes,  the 
.   they  liiul  ; 
dent,  and 
the  aseeiul 
tions,  and 


•  -f  ■ 


at  tlie 
Narra- 

cquirc    ' ! 

ij 

;  of  the  :! 

sioners   ;  I 
provi'<l    I '; 
as  soon   i I 
•ilopro- 
^ssaeu?!, 
edatoT)    ■ 
rium.v, 
iiu>,  luul 
KtigVit^h. 
Pci^viots 
illation; 
alliaueo 
V  iieidi- 
rcls  wilU 
([iiasson, 
over  tlio 
Mit;    and 


INDIANS  OF  NEW  ENGLAND. 


223 


ragansetts,  tlic  mosu  2)i'ompt  and  violent  proceedings  were 
resorted  to :  the  payment  of  an  immense  amount  of  wampum 
was  exacted;  the  d(;livery  of  hostages  from  among  the 
principal  people  of  the  tribe  was  demanded;  and  threats  of 
war  and  extermination  were  used  to  humble  and  humil- 
iate them. 

In  Scjitember,  1655,  a  few  of  the  scattered  Pequots  who 
had  not  joined  the  forces  of  Uncas,  were  allowed  a  resting- 
place  by  the  commissioners,  upon  a  portion  of  the  south- 
eastern sea-coast  of  Connecticut,  and  their  existence  as  a 
separate  tribe  was  formally  acknowledged. 

This  little  remnant  of  the  crushed  and  overthrown  na- 
tion, had  been,  for  some  time,  under  the  guidance  of  two 
selfconstituted  sachems,  one  commonly  called  Kobiii  Cas- 
BinaiiK-nt,  a  Pecpiot,  and  tlie  otlier  Cashawashet,  a  ncjiliew 
of  Ninigret,  known  among  the  English  as  irermon  Garret. 

Th(!y  liad  formed  small  SL'ttlemeuts  upon  tlie  tract  now 
allotted  to  them,  which  tlicy  were  allowed  to  retain  upon 
payment  of  tribute,  in  wampum,  to  the  colonies,  and  the 
adoption  of  a  prescribed  code  of  laws.  Their  governors 
■were  to  ho  chosen  by  the  English;  and  Cushawashet  and 
Cassinament  received  the  first  appointment. 

It  will  readily  be  perceived  to  what  an  extent  the  jiower 
and  control  of  the  colonists  over  the  atlairs  of  the  Indians 
in  their  vicinity,  had  increased,  even  at  this  early  period. 
The  natives  were  lujw  glad  to  settle  down  under  the  protec- 
tion of  their  masters;  to  ]iay  yearly  tribute  as  amends  for 
former  hostilities;  and  to  hire  the  lands  of  which  they  had 
bee"  so  short  a  time  previous  the  undisturbed  possessors. 

Jt  is  })itiful  to  read  of  the  coarse  coats,  the  shovels,  the 
lioes,  the  knives,  and  jews-harps,  in  exchange  for  which 
they  had  parted  with  their  broad  lands.  Utterly  impi'cni- 
dcnt,  and  incapable  of  foreseeing,  or  hopeless  of  averting 
the  ascendancy  of  the  whites  *]icy  yielded  to  their  exac- 
tions, and  submitted  to  their  u!?tation. 


1  mmm 


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224 


INDIAN  EACES  OF  AMERICA. 


Sauntering  indolently  about  the  settlements,  and  wasting 
their  energies  by  excess  in  the  use  of  the  novel  means  of 
excitenicnt  offered  by  "strong  Avaters,"  they  lost  much  of 
that  native  pride,  dignit}',  and  self-respect  which  distin- 
guished them  wlien  intercourse  with  foreigners  first  com- 
mcneed.  Tlicir  numbers,  which  appear  to  have  been  grossly 
exaggerated,  even  in  theiv  most  flcnrishing  days,  were 
rapidly  diminishing;  their  game  was  becoming  scarce; 
and  the  refinements  and  comforts  of  civilization,  rude  in- 
deed L3  compared  to  what  now  exists,  presented  to  their 
eyes  at  the  white  settlements,  only  aggravated  the  con- 
sciousness of  their  own  poverty  and  distress. 

The  Tunxis  and  Podunk  Indians,  who  inhabited  either 
side  of  the  Connecticut,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  English  set- 
tlements; the  Quinnipiacs  on  the  sound,  where  New  Haven 
now  stands ;  the  Nchantics,  to  the  eastward  of  the  river ;  and 
the  feeble  Pequot  settlement,  were  subject  to,  or  in  cfU'ct, 
under  the  control  of  the  colonists:  Uncas  was  their  "friend 
and  fast  ally;"  and  the  Narragansctts,  though  under  susjii- 
cion  of  various  treacherous  plans,  were  nominally  d  peace 
with  the  whites,  and  quelled  by  the  terror  of  their  anus. 

Tliis  condition  of  affairs  continued,  with  the  excej)tic)n 
of  the  great  and  linal  struggle  between  the  colonists  and 
the  natives,  known  as  Philip's  war — to  be  detailed  in  a  suc- 
ceeding article — until  the  death  of  Uncas,  about  the  year 
1GS2.  He  left  the  title  to  his  extensive  domains  involved 
in  inextricable  confusion.  In  consequence  of  deeds  and 
grants  from  himself  and  his  sons  Owenoco  and  Attawan- 
hood,  to  various  individuals  among  the  white  settlers,  and 
for  various  purposes,  the  effect  of  which  conveyances  were 
probably  unknown  to  the  grantors,  numerous  contradictory 
claims  arose.  The  same  tracts  were  made  over  to  diffei'eiit 
persons;  oi;e  grant  wonld  extend  over  a  large  })or<^ion  nf 
another;  and,  to  crown  all,  Uncas,  in  the  year  K!.")!),  had 
aliened  his  whole  possessions  by  deed,  regularly  witnessed, 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


225 


to  John  Muson,  of  Norwich.  This  conveyance  av.is  evi- 
dently intended  by  the  sachem  merely  to  confer  a  general 
power  as  overseer  or  trustee  upon  a  man  whom  he  con- 
sidered as  friendly  to  his  interests,  and  whose  knowledge 
would  prove  a  protection  against  the  overreaching  of  pro- 
posed purchasers.  According  to  the  Indian  understand- 
ing of  the  transaction  was  the  claim  of  Mason  and  his 
heirs,  who  arrogated  to  themselves  no  further  interest  or 
authority  than  that  above  specified.  The  Connecticut 
colony,  by  virtue  of  a  general  deed  of  "surrender  of  juris- 
diction," obtained  from  Muson,  insisted  on  an  unqualified 
property  in  the  whole  domain. 

Owenoco  succeeded  his  father  as  sachem  of  the  Mohe- 
gans,  and  pursued  a  similar  course  to  secure  his  lands, 
conveying  them  to  the  sons  of  Mason  as  trustees.  His 
Indian  improvidence  and  intemperance  led  him  to  disre- 
gard this  arrangement,  and  to  give  deeds  of  various  tracts 
included  in  the  trust  conveyance,  without  the  knowledge 
or  assent  of  the  overseer.  In  July,  of  the  year  170-4,  in 
order  to  settle  the  conflicting  claims  of  the  Avhites  and  In- 
dians, and  to  restore  to  the  tribe  the  porti.^ns  illegally 
obtained  Irom  them,  a  royal  conunission  was  obtained  from 
Kiigland,  by  some  friends  of  the  Mohegans.  to  exanune 
and  settle  the  disputed  questions. 

The  colony  ])r()tested  against  the  })roceeding,  denying 
the  authority  of  the  crown  to  determine  upon  the  matter, 
and  refused  to  apjKNir  before  the  commissioners.  The 
conduct  of  the  case  being  ',;■  jmrtc,  a  decision  was  given  in 
favor  of  the  ^lohegans,  restoring  them  to  a  vast  extent  of 
territorv  alled<j;ed  to  have  been  obtained  from  their  sachems 
wlien  intoxicated,  or  by  other  underdiand  and  illegal 
coni'ses.  From  this  dccive  the  Conne(-ticut  coloiiy  aj)- 
pealed,  and  a  new  eonnnission  was  granted,  but  with  no 
decisive  result,  and  the  case  remained  unsettled  for  more 
tlian  half  a  century  from  the  time  of  its  commencement. 
15 


1 


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226 


INDIAN  KACi:S  OF  AMERICA. 


Ovvenoco  lived  to  an  fidvanccid  age,  becoming,  before  his 
death,  a  helpless  mendicant,  and  subsisting,  in  (;onii)ai)y 
with  his  squaw,  u])on  the  hospitality  of  the  neighboring 
settlers.     Ilis  son  Cjcsar  was  his  successor  as  sachem. 

Bon,  the  youngest  son  of  Uncas,  of  illegitimate  h'lrth, 
succeeded  Ca\sar,  to  the  exclusion  of  the  rightful  heir, 
young  Mamohet,  a  grandson  of  Owenoco. 

^Nfason  now  renewed  his  claims,  and,  accom})anied  by 
his  two  sons,  carried  !^^amohet  to  Kngland,  that  he  miglit 
present  a  new  jDctition  to  the  reigning  monarch.  A  new 
commission  was  awarded,  but  both  the  applicants  died 
before  it  was  made  out.  When  the  tiial  faially  came  on 
in  1738,  dist-'iguished  counsel  were  cm])loyed  on  botli 
sides,  in  anticipation  of  an  arduous  and  protracted  contest ; 
but  by  a  singular  course  of  collusion  and  artifuu',  which 
it  were  too  tedious  to  detail,  the  decision  of  1705,  on  tlie 
iirst  commission,  Avas  repealed,  and  the  Connecticut  t'laims 
supported.  This  was  appealed  from  by  the  Masons,  and 
good  cause  appearing,  a  new  trial  was  dccn^ed. 

Five  'lommissioners,  men  of  note  from  New  York  ami 
New  Jersey,  met  at  Norwicli  in  the  summer  of  174.'!,  and 
the  great  case  brought  in  auditors  and  parties  in  interest 
from  far  and  near.  The  claims,  and  the  facts  oll'ered  in 
sujiport  of  them,  were  strangely 'utrieate  and  coni{)le.\: 
counsel  appeared  in  behalf  of  four  S(>ts  of  parties,  vi/: 
the  Connecticut  colony;  the  two  claimants  of  the  title  ><[' 
Sachem  of  the  Mohcgans,  JJen  and  John,  a  descendant  nl' 
the  elder  branch;  and  those  in  possession  of  tin;  lauds 
in  ((uestion. 

Tlie  decree  was  in  favor  of  the  colony,  which  was  sus- 
tained on  the  concluding  examination  of  the  ease  in 
Kngland.  Two  of  the  commissioners  dissented.  'I'lio 
Mohegans  still  retained  a  re.'jervation  of  about  four  tliou- 
satid  acres. 

Their  number  reduced  to  a  few  hundred;  distracted  bv 


NEW  ENGLAND   INDIANS. 


227 


tlic  uncertain  tenure  of  tlieir  property,  and  tlic  claims  of 
the  rival  sacliems;  rningleil  with  the  whites  in  contentions, 
the  merits  of  which  they  were  little  capable  of  compre- 
lunding;  with  drunkenness  and  vice  prevalent  among 
them;  the  tribe  was  fast  dwindling  into  insignificance, 
licstrictive  laws,  forbidding  the  sale  of  ardent  spirits  to  the 
Indians,  were  then,  as  now,  but  of  little  effect. 

Of  the  celebrated  and  warlike  tribes  of  the  Mohegans 
and  Pequots,  only  a  few  miserable  families  now  remain, 
upon  their  ancient  territory.  '^I'hcse  are  mostly  of  mixed 
l)lood,  and  little  of  the  former  character  of  their  race  is  to 
he  seen  in  tlicm  except  its  peculiar  vices.  ^i''hey  an; 
sc!antily  su])ported  by  the  rents  of  the  lands  still  reserved 
and  appropriated  1o  their  use.  A  number  of  the  Mohc- 
gjins  removed  to  IIk;  Oneida  district,  in  New  York,  some 
years  since,  but  a  few  still  remain  near  the  former  head- 
ipiartcrs  of  their  tribe,  and  individuals  among  them  retain 
ihc  names  of  sachems  and  warriors  noted  in  the  early 
ages  of  the  colonics. 

Mueli  interest  attaches  to  the  efforts  which  have  been 
made  for  the  instruction  and  improvement  of  this  remnant 
(if  the  Mohegan  nation;  especially  as  connected  with  the 
biography  of  Samuel  Occnm,  their  native  j)reaeher;  one 
(if  the  few  Indians  who  have  been  bronglit  under  the 
influence  of  civilization,  and  have  ac(piircd  a  liberal 
education. 

In  reviewing  the  character  and  histor}'  of  these,  as  of 
most  of  the  native  tribes,  and  reflecting  u])on  their  steadv 
and  hopeless  decline  before  the  European  immigrants,  we 
cannot  but  feel  influenced  by  contradictory  sympathies, 
^llieir  cvuclties  strike  us  with  horror;  their  treachery  and 
vices  disgust  us;  but,  with  ail  this,  we  still  may  trace  the 
tokens  of  a  great  and  noble  spirit.  It  is  painful  to  reflect 
that  this  has  more  and  more  declined  as  their  communion 
with  the  whites  has  become  the  more  intimate.     They 


r 


1,5' J^t*  V     ^^'.'-f 


li     <t    •  ' 


'  -/'m 


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'         '      1. 


V    kit 


'   I. 


f     v-      i^J 


r'fiwi^v.ii 


•J    1  «f 


I  'I 

>    -A 


'     "    (,'J 


228 


IXDIAN  UACKS  OF  AMERICA. 


have  lost  tlieir  nationality,  and  witli  it  tlieir  priile  and 
self-respect;  the  squalid  and  poverty-stricken  iigures  haiii:- 
ing  about  tlic  miserable  huts  they  inhabit,  convey  but  a 
faint  idea  of  the  picture  that  the  nation  presented  when  in 
a  purely  savage  state;  when  the  vices  of  foreign  ers  had  not, 
as  yet,  contaminated  them,  uor  their  superior  power  and 
knowledge  disheartened  them  by  the  contrast. 


CllAPTKR  IV. 

KING    PHILIP'S    WAR. 

THE  INDIANS  FUHNISHED  WITH  KIltK-ARMS — SITUATION  OF  THE 

COLONISTS I'lIILIp's     ACCESSION HIS     TREATIES     WITH 

THE  WHITES HIS  Tltl'K   PLANS EMMISSARIES  SENT 

TOSOGKON/TE CAPTAIN  HENJAMIN  CHURCH 

HIS  INTERVIEW  WITH  AWOSHONKS MUR- 
DER OF  JOHN  SASSAMON. 

The  events  of  which  we  sliall  now  proceed  to  give  a 
brief  synopsis,  were  of  more  momentous  interest,  ami 
fraught  witli  more  deadly  peril  to  the  New  England  coin- 
nies,  than  auglit  that  liad  preceded  them.  The  wiM 
inhabitants  of  the  forest  had  now  become  far  more  dangiM- 
ous  opponents  than  when  they  relied  uj)on  their  rude  Hint- 
headed  arrows,  or  heavy  stone  tomahawks,  as  the  oiilv 
efficient  wea])ons  of  oflence.  Governor  Bradford,  maiiv 
years  before  the  breaking  out  of  the  hostilities  which  we  are 
about  to  detail,  had  given  a  graphic  description  of  the  elToct 
produced  upon  their  deportment  and  sclf-eonridence  by  tlic 
introduction  of  European  weapons.  We  (pxote  from  l^i'ail- 
ford's  verse,  as  rendered  in  prose  in  the  ai)pendix  to 
Davis'  edition  of  the  New  England  Memorial. 

"These  fierce  natives,"  says  he,  "ai-e  now  so  furnished 


I 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


229 


with  guns  and  nuisqncts,  and  arc  so  skilled  in  tliem,  that 
they  keep  the  Knglish  in  awe,  and  give  the  law  to  them 
when  they  please;  and  oC  powiler  and  sliot  they  have  such 
abundance  that  sometimes  they  refuse  to  buy  more.  Flints, 
so'vw-plates,  and  moulds  for  all  sorts  of  shot  they  liave, 
and  skill  how  to  use  them.  They  can  mend  and  new 
stock  their  pieces  as  well,  almost,  as  an  Knglishman." 

lie  describes  the  advantages  which  they  thus  obtained 
over  the  whites  in  the  [lursuit  of  game;  their  own  con- 
sciousness of  )  lower,  and  boasts  that  tiiey  could,  wdien 
tlioy  pleased,  "drive  away  the  English,  or  kill  them;" 
and  fmally  break."  out  into  bitter  upbraidiiigs  against  tlic 
folly  and  covetous'iess  of  the  traders  who  had  su])plied 
them  with  amis,  ilis  foivbodings  were  tndy  proi»hetic: 
"Many,"  says  lie,  "abhor  this  practice,"  (the  trade  in  arms 
and  ammunition,)  "whose  innocence  will  not  save  them 
if,  which  (jod  tbrbid,  they  should  come  to  see,  by  this 
means,  some  sad  tragedy,  when  these  heathen,  in  their 
fury,  shall  cruelly  shed  our  innocent  blood." 

The  Knglish  settlements  were  small,  ill  defended,  and 
widely  scattered.  Whoever  is  acquainted  with  the  rough 
nature  of  the  New  I'higland  soil,  must  at  once  perceive 
how  necessary  it  became  lor  the  lirst  settlers  to  select  the 
spots  most  favorable  for  cultivation,  and  what  an  inhos- 
]iitable  wilderness  must  have  separated  their  small  and 
ill-l)rotected  villages. 

The  whole  number  of  the  European  inhabitants  of 
New  England,  in  1(575,  when  the  memoral)le  Indian  war 
broke  out,  has  been  computed  at  about  lifty  thousand, 
which  would  give  an  ellective  force  of  not  far  from  eight 
thousand  men. 

It  were  but  wild  conjecture  to  attempt  a  comjuitatiou 
of  the  number  and  force  of  the  native  tribes  who  took 
part  in  ihe  war.  Old  historians  frecpiently  sj)eak  jiositively, 
and  in  round  numbers,  when  enumerating  the  aborigines; 


■ "  i'i 

>  ".it 


■  ■    ',( 

.  '     '  '  ■ 

.  "i 

,r':-V-'^ 

■  'i*  ' 

■•^«V,^i 

■  1 

vis.;''-5:i!!i 


230 


INDIAX   HAOKri  OF  AMKUKA. 


but,  ill  many  instances,  we  can  perceive,  witli  tolcrublo 
certainty,  that  tliey  luivo  been  guilty  of  grass  exaggei'.itioii, 
such  as  the  whole  circumstances  oC  their  intercourse  with 
the  savages  would  natura.l/  lead  to. 

An  enemy  whose  appearance  was  sudden  and  inicx- 
jjccted;  wlio,  in  seeret  and)uscade  or  niitbiight  assault, 
used  every  device  to  increase  the  teri'or  and  bewildcrmcni, 
of  theiT  victims,  might  well  be  over  estimated  by  tliosu 
whos(>  iill  was  at  stake,  and  wbo  were  waiting  in  fearl'iil 
uncertainty  as  to  where  the  danger  hiy,  or  when  they 
bliould  next  le  called  U)  resist  it. 

In  i(i(t2,  ]'hiliji,  Metaeonu't  or  ]'omctacoin,  as  we  have 
already  .seen,  succeeded  his  brother  Alexander,  within  u 
lew  months  of  tlie  di  itii  o'' their  fatlier,  Massasoit.  rpmi 
the  (K'easion  oi'  liis  assuming  the  ilignity  (^f  saelieni  ovci' 
llie  \Vamj)anoags,  there  was  a  great  eoUeeiion  of  .saeheins 
and  warriors  from  all  j>ans  of  the  eonntiy,  tn  unite  in  :i 
ieast  of  rejoicing  at  Aloimt  Hope,  where  he  held  his  cuiiii. 

Although  tlie  m;w  chief  renewed  his  treaty'  with  the 
English,  and  for  nine  years  alter  his  accession  made  no 
open  denion.strations  of  hostility,  yet  Ins  mind  a]ip(*ars 
ii'dui  the  first  to  ]ia\c  been  aliened  from  the  intriiders. 
A\'!ieihc!'  Irom  angx-r  at  the  ].rocce(lings  attendant  on  llic 
death  of  his  brother,  or  from  sympathy  with  his  injuifd 
allies,  the  Narragansett.s,  or  that  his  natural  sagacity  .sug- 
gested to  liim  the  ruin  which  must  j'all  upon  his  jieojilc  hv 
the  s])read  of  the  whites;  certain  it  is  that  his  feelings  of 
enmity  were  nourished  and  brooded  ovei-,  long  belbre 
tl'cir  final  exhibition. 

Like  his  father  before  him,  he  never  inclined  an  ear  to 
the  teachings  of  the  Christian  religion.  Mather  meiili(jiis 
a  signal  instance  of  his  .coiitem])t  for  this  sj)ecies  ol'  in- 
struction. The  celebrated  pix'acher,  Kliot,  had  expounded 
the  doctrines  of  Christianity,  and  urged  their  acceptance 
upon  J'hilip,  with  his  usual   zeal  and  sincerity;  but  the 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


281 


sachem,  approadiing  liim,  ami  laying  hold  of  a  button  on 
his  coat,  told  him  that  ho  carod  no  more  lor  his  Gospel 
than  for  that  button. 

In  the  year  1071,  Philip  made  grievous  comjilaiiils  of 
tres[)ass('.s  upon  the  ])lantiiiL;-lands  (jf  liis  jx-opK':  uccordiiij^ 
to  lJul)bard,  "tlic  devil,  who  was  a  iiiui'derer  from  the 
beginning,  had  so  (illed  the  heart  of  this  savage  miscreant 
witli  envy  ami  mulicc  against  the  KngHsh,  that  ho.  was 
ready  to  break  out  into  ojkmi  war  against  the  inludtitants 
of  IMyniouth,  ])reteudiiig  some  trifling  injuries  (U)iie  liim 
in  his  phinting-land." 

Tliis  matter  was  for  tiie  time  settled,  the  eomj)l:iints 
not  a|ipearing  to  the  colonial  authorities  to  lie  satisfae- 
tmilv  substantiated.  A  meeting  wns  brought  about,  in 
April,  1(!71,  at  'fauiitoii,  bi'twee;i  i'liili}),  aeeompanied  by 
a  j)arty  of  his  warriors,  in  war  \k[U\\  and  hostih;  tra])jiings, 
and  conunissionei's  from  Massachusetts.  'I'he  Indian  eliief, 
iniabK'  to  aeeount  for  the  hostiU-  i)reparations  in  wdiieh  ho 
was  ]iroved  to  have  been  engaged,  became  confused,  and 
perhaps  intimidated.  He  not  only  acknowledged  himself 
in  the  wrong,  and  that  the  rebellion  originated  in  the 
''naughtiness  of  his  own  heart,"  but  renewed  his  submis- 
sion t(.)  the  king  of  Kngland,  and  Jigreed  to  surrender  all 
his  Knglish  arms  to  the  government  of  New  Plymouth, 
•'to  be  kept  as  long  as  they  should  see  reason,"  Jn  pursu- 
ance of  this  clause,  the  gims  bi'onght  by  himself  ami  the 
party  who  were  with  him  were  di'livered  uji. 

'J'he  colonists,  now  thoroughly  alarmed,  made  elVorts 
during  the  succeeding  sununer  to  deprive  the  neighboring 
trilies  of  arms  and  annmmition,  making  further  prohibitory 
eiu\ctments  as  to  the  trade  in  these  articles.  Philip  having 
failed  to  carry  out  his  agreement  to  surrender  his  weapons, 
the  Plymouth  government  referred  the  matter  to  the 
authorities  of  Afassachusetts;  but  Philip,  r(>pairing  himself 
to  I5ost(ui,   excited  some  feeling  in    his  favor,  and   the 


I 


{' 


I 

I: 

5-' 


m 


Vl 


'^\^ 


'  ■  ■,'  ('.■.>* 


'''  'Mi 


232 


INDIAN  HACKS   OF  AMKUICA. 


claims  of  Plymouth  were  not  fully  assented  to.  Another 
treaty  was  coiicluded  in  the  ensuin<^  S('[>tend)er,  whereby 
riiiUp  agreed  to  jniy  eertain  stipidated  eosts;  to  eonsidcr 
liinuself  >sul>jeet  to  the  king  of  Knghmd  ;  to  consult  tlie 
governor  of  I'lynionth  in  the  disposal  of  his  lands,  as  also 
in  thc!  making  of  war;  to  render,  if  practicable.,  five  wolves' 
heads  yearly;  and  to  refer  all  dilferenees  and  causes  of 
quarrel  to  the  decision  of  the  govi'rnor.  The  iriiis  put  in 
possession  of  the  Knglish  at  thc  time  of  the  i  iceting  in 
April,  wel'C  declareil  forfeit,  and  conliscated  by  the  I'ly- 
mouth  government. 

There  can  be  but  little  doubt  as  to  lMuli])'s  motive  for 
signing  these  articles.  Feelings  of  enmity  and  revengt! 
towards  the  whites  had  obtained  complete  possession  of 
him,  and  he  evidentU'  wished  merely  to  ([uiet  suspicion 
and  avert  impury.  It  is  almost  universally  allowed  that 
he  had  long  fornu'(l  a  d('c|)  and  settled  jilan  to  exterminatr 
thc  white  settlers,  and,  mi  pursuaiii'c  of  it,  had  made  usr 
of  all  his  powers  of  artful  persuasion  in  his  intercourse 
with  the  surrounding  ti-lln's.  ^fhe  time  for  a  general  up- 
rising was  said  to  have  been  tixed  a  year  later  than  the 
})eri()d  when  hostilities  actually  connuem-i'd,  and  the  pre- 
mature development  of  the  consijiracy,  brought  about  in 
a  manner  to  whieli  we  shall  presently  advert,  has  been 
considered  the  salvation  of  the  colonies. 

Hubbard,  indeed,  who  is  ever  unwilling  to  allow  that 
the  Indians  were  possessed  of  any  go(;d  or  desirable  (piali- 
ties,  and  who  can  see  no  wrong  in  any  of  the  outrages  of 
the  whites,  suggests  that  Philip's  heart  wc'uld  ha\e  failed 
him,  had  ho  n(.)t  been  pressed  on  to  the  undertaking  by 
Ibrcc  of  circumstances.  lie;  tells  ns  that,  when  the  great 
sachem  suecundjed  t(j  the  Knglish  demands,  in  the  spring 
previous,  "one  of  his  ea])tains,  of  iiir  better  courage  and 
resolution  than  himself,  wlien  he  saw  liis  cowardly  tem])cr 
and  disposition,  flung  down  his  arms,  calling  him  a  white- 


I 


•1 

'fWWH 

1 

1 

f 

■     ;  ..  1      '"■*>,      ■ 

1 

4vV, 


livered  c 
never  ov 
time,  lia1 
this  day, 
PliilijD 
acquaint! 
fifty  yea] 
colonists 
to  adopt 
notice,  y, 
themselv 
tions  so  1 
To  roil 
struggle; 
out  the  d 
spread,  ro 
proved  ]i 
the  concii 
nation  ah 
than  nios 
league  fa: 
necticut 
every  dir 
Six  o 
patched 
eastern  s 
tlie  sea  cc 
the  tribe, 
appointee 
but,  at  til 
gence  of  i 
and  Geor 
tain  Bcnj 
in  that  pj 
This  re 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


233 


livered  cur,  or  to  that  purpose,  and  saying  that  he  would 
never  own  him  again  or  fight  under  him ;  and,  from  that 
time,  hath  turned  to  the  Enghsh,  and  hath  continued,  to 
this  day,  a  faithful  and  resolute  soldier  in  their  quarrel." 

Philip  had  mingled  much  with  the  whites,  and  was  well 
acquainted  with  their  habits,  dispositions,  and  force.  For 
fifty  years  there  had  been  comparative  peace  between  the 
colonists  and  their  savage  neighbors,  who,  although  slow 
to  adopt  the  customs  and  refinements  now  brought  to  their 
notice,  were  apt  enough,  as  we  have  seen,  in  availing 
themselves  of  the  weapons  which  put  the  contending  na- 
tions so  nearly  upon  terms  of  equality. 

To  rouse  a  widely-scattered  people  to  such  a  desperate 
struggle;  to  reconcile  clannish  animosities,  and  to  point 
out  the  danger  of  allowing  the  colonies  to  continue  their 
spread,  required  a  master-spirit.  The  Wampanoag  sachem 
proved  liimself  qualified  for  the  undertaking:  he  gained 
the  concurrence  and  cooperation  of  the  Narragansetts,  a 
nation  always  more  favorably  disposed  towards  the  l^higlish 
tlian  most  otlicis  of  the  Indian  tribes;  he  extended  his 
league  far  to  the  westward,  among  the  tribes  on  the  Con- 
necticut and  elsewhere ;  and  sent  diplomatic  embassies  in 
every  direction. 

Six  of  his  warriors,  in  the  spring  of  1675,  were  dis- 
patched to  Sogkonatc,  now  Little  Compton,  upon  the 
eastern  shores  of  Narragansett  bay,  and  extending  along 
the  sea  coast,  to  treat  with  Awoshonks,  squaw  sachem  of 
the  tribe,  concerning  the  pro])osed  uprising.  The  queen 
appointed  a  great  dance,  calling  together  all  her  people, 
but,  at  the  same  time,  took  the  precaution  to  send  intelli- 
gence of  the  proceeding,  by  two  Indians,  named  Sassamon 
and  George,  who  understood  English,  to  her  friend.  Cap- 
tain Benjamin  Church,  the  only  white  settler  iheu  residing 
in  that  part  of  the  country. 

This  remarkable  man,  wliose  name  occupies  so  prominent 


I 


flu      v.,v', 


1^ 


III' 


....  .  ^.j';^r-;iii|*: 

M 

M 

b     ■    ■■':  ;-i  w    ;  i:i;,;    ,._ 

!  ;  ',  ;. -u,-'  M  ■'•1  v;>| 

■111-'-  -^^.l-'^''^ 


234 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


.  ^'  ■  .  "  -♦■ 


a  place  in  the  lis ,  of  ovir  early  militaiy  licroes,  liad  moved 
from  Duxbury  into  the  unsettled  countr}'  of  tlie  Sogkonates 
only  the  year  before,  and  -was  busily  and  laboriously  en- 
gaged, at  tliis  time,  in  building,  and  in  the  numerous  cares 
attendant  upon  a  new  settlement.  He  was  a  man  of 
courage  and  fortitude  unsur])assed :  bold  and  energetic; 
but  with  all  the  rough  qualities  of  a  soldier,  possessing  a 
heart  so  opea  to  kindly  emotions  and  the  gentler  feelings 
of  humanit}''  as  to  excite  our  surprise,  when  we  consider 
the  stern  age  in  which  he  lived,  and  the  scenes  of  savage 
conflict  in  which  he  boi'e  so  conspicuous  a  part. 

1'ruc  courage  is  generally  combined  with  generosity  and 
magnanhnity.  The  brave  man  seldom  oppresses  a  fallen 
foe;  a  flict  strikingl}^  exemplified  in  Church's  treatment 
of  his  prisoners.  He  seems  to  have  harbored  none  of  those 
feelings  of  bitterness  and  revenge  which  led  the  colonists 
to  acts  of  perfidy  and  cruelty  hardly  surpassed  by  the 
savages  themselves.  Tlie  manner  in  which  he  was  able 
to  conciliate  the  good-will  of  the  Indians,  known  as  he  was 
among  them  for  their  most  dangerous  foe,  is  truly  aston- 
ishing. It  was  his  custom  to  select  from  his  captives  such 
as  took  his  fancy,  and  attach  them  to  himself,  and  never 
was  ofilcer  attended  by  a  inore  enthusiastic  and  faithful 
guard  than  they  proved.  Ilis  son  tells  us  that  "if  he 
perceived  they  looked  surh',  and  his  Indian  soldiers  called 
them  treacherous  dogs,  as  some  of  them  would  sometimes 
do,  all  the  notice  he  would  take  of  it  would  only  be  to 
clap  them  on  the  back,  and  tell  them,  'Come,  come,  you 
look  wild  and  surly,  and  mutter,  but  that  signifies  notliiiig; 
these,  my  best  soldiei'S,  were,  a  little  while  ago,  as  wild  and 
surly  as  you  are  now;  Ijy  tlie  tinie  you  have  boon  but  one 
day  with  me,  you  will  love  me  too,  and  be  as  brisk  as  any 
of  them.'  And  it  proved  so,  for  there  was  none  of  them 
but,  after  they  had  been  a  little  while  with  him,  and  seen 
his  behavior   and  how  cheerful  and  successful  his  men 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


235 


were,  would  be  as  ready  to  pilot  liim  to  any  place  where 
the  Indians  dwelt  or  haunted,  though  their  own  fathers  or 
nearest  relations  should  be  among  them,  or  to  fight  for 
him,  as  any  of  his  own  men," 

Captain  Church  was  in  high  favor  and  confidence  with 
Awoshonks  and  her  tribe ;  he  therefore  accepted  her  invi- 
tation to  attend  at  the  dance,  and  started  for  the  camp, 
accompanied  by  a  son  of  his  tenant,  who  spoke  the  In- 
dian language. 

He  found  the  queen  leading  the  dance,  "in  a  muck  of 
sweat,"  surrounded  by  a  great  body  of  her  subjects.  She 
received  her  visitor  hospitably,  told  him  of  Philip's  threats, 
and  inquired  concerning  the  purposes  of  the  English. 
Church  told  her  that  no  injuries  h^d  been  meditated  by 
the  whites,  as  Philip  averred,  but  that  the  sachem  was  the 
aggressor.  He  advised  her  to  keep  upon  good  terms  with 
tlie  English,  asking  her  whether  it  was  a  probable  thing 
that  he  should  have  come  down  into  the  wilderness  to  set- 
tle— if  there  were  warlike  preparations  in  progress  among 
his  people ;  and  silenced  the  six  Mount  Hope  ambassadors 
by  recommending  that  they  should  be  knocked  on  the 
head.  A  stormy  discussion  ensued  among  the  Indians, 
and  one  Little  Eyes,  a  man  of  importance,  endeavored  to 
draw  Church  aside  to  dispatch  him  quietly ;  but  the  captain 
was  unmoved,  and  upbraided  the  Mount  Hopes  for  their 
bloody  intention,  assuring  them  that,  if  they  would  have 
war,  he  would  prove  a  thorn  in  their  sides.  Awoshonks 
inclined  to  his  advice,  and,  having  appointed  two  men 
to  guard  his  house  during  his  absence,  desired  him  to  go  to 
Plymouth,  and  make  known  her  good  faith  to  the  colonies. 

Church  started  on  his  mission,  and,  on  the  way,  gained 
further  information  concerning  Philip's  movements  from 
Peter  Nunnuit,  the  husband  of  Wectamore,  queen  of  Po- 
cas'iet,  now  Tiverton.  Philip,  it  seems,  had  been  holding 
a  protracted  dance  for  a  niunber  of  weeks,  rousing  a  ninv- 


'•.■■liii.PUf 


•  I 


'•J'),."  \  ■  ' 


236 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


tial  spirit  in  the  minds  of  the  young  warriors  \,^ho  were 
gathered  about  him  from  far  and  near.  lie  had  finally 
promised  them  that,  on  the  succeeding  SaVoath,  they 
might  plunder  the  English  settlements,  while  the  people 
were  engaged  in  religious  services. 

We  may  hero  mention  a  circumstance  which  was  con- 
sidered, by  Htibbard  and  others,  as  having  an  important 
bearing  upon  the  premature  commencement  of  hostilities 
on  the  part  of  Philip :  this  was  the  murder  of  John  Sas- 
samon,  and  the  subsequent  execution  of  the  guilty  parties. 
Sassamon  was  one  of  the  few  Indians  who,  at  that  time, 
had  received  the  rudiments  of  an  English  education.  He 
was  a  professor  of  Christianity,  and  had  been  employed 
among  his  people  in  the  capacities  of  schoolmaster,  preacher, 
and  royul  secretary.  In  1662,  he  occupied  this  latter  post 
under  Philip,  to  whom  he  was  subject,  although  born  a 
Massachusett — and  sjiecimcns  of  his  imperfect  communi- 
cations with  the  colonies,  in  behalf  of  his  sachem,  are 
still  preserved. 

Becoming  aware  of  the  dangerous  conspiracy  fomented 
by  Philip,  he  disclosed  the  whole  plot  to  the  officers  of  the 
colon}';  and,  not  long  after,  his  body  was  found  in  Assa- 
womsett  pond,  with  the  neck  broken,  and  presenting  other 
marks  of  violence.  His  gun  and  hat  were  so  disposed  as 
to  give  the  impression  that  he  had  accidentally  fallen 
through  the  ice,  and  been  drowned.  The  matter  was 
strictly  inquired  into,  and  three  Indians,  of  Philip's  party, 
falling  under  suspicion,  were  regularly  tried  befoi'c  a  jury, 
in  })art  at  least  of  their  peers,  as  it  was  composed  of  wliitcs 
and  Indians.  The  culprits  were  convicted  and  executed, 
two  of  them  up<>n  what  would  appear  to  us  as  very  insuf- 
ficient evidence.  Mather  speaks  of  the  blood  ooiiiag  from 
tlie  murdered  body  on  the  approach  of  the  accused ;  but 
whether  this  circumstance  made  a  part  of  the  evidence 
before  the  court  does  not  appear. 


NEW  ENGLAND   INDIANS. 


237 


Philip  himself  did  not  come  forward  to  attempt  to  clear 
himself  of  the  charge  of  being  concerned  in  this  murder, 
but  kept  his  warriors  in  preparation  for  battle,  receiving 
and  entertaining  all  the  roving  and  unsettled  Indians  who 
would  resort  to  him,  and  "marching  up  and  down"  con- 
tinually during  the  pendancy  of  the  trial. 


CHAPTER  V. 

ATTACK  ON    SWANSEY — COLLECTION  OF  TROOPS — FIGHT  AT    MILEs' 

BRIDGE — PHILIP  DRIVEN  FROM  THE    NECK — CHURCH  AT 

rUNKATESE DESTRUCTION  OF  BROOKFIELD. 

It  was  on  the  24th  of  Jnnc,  1675,  that  the  first  open 
attack  was  made  upon  the  colonics.  The  small  village  of 
Swansey  lay  within  a  few  miles  of  Mount  Hope,  and  here 
the  first  blood  was  shed.  Some  days  previous,  a  party  of 
the  natives  had  committed  a  few  slight  depredations  at  this 
place,  and  conducted  themselves  with  insolciice,  evidently 
desirous  of  provoking  a  quarrel. 

The  squaws  and  children  of  Philip's  active  force  were 
sent,  for  safety,  to  the  country  of  the  Narragan setts,  before 
any  open  demonstration  of  hostilities. 

Some  little  discrepancy  occurs  in  the  early  accounts  of 
the  first  fatal  attack,  but  it  h  certain  that,  on  the  day  above 
mentioned,  eight  or  nine  men  were  killed  in  different  parts 
of  SwatiS'^y.  A  company  returning  from  religious  exer- 
cises, "in  a  way  of  humiliation,"  were  fired  iipon  with  fatal 
et&ct,  one  being  killed  and  several  wounded.  Two  more, 
who  had  started  in  quest  of  a  surgeon,  were  slain,  scalped 
and  mangled;  and  six  men  were  killed  at  a  dwelling-house 
.situated  in  another  part  of  the  settlement. 

From  this  period  all  was  terror  and  confusion.    Swan- 


'I 


t    r 


'  L 


2S8 


INDIAN  EACES  Ox^  AMERICA. 


i>.-v,  ■  ; 


"■\-.y 


..;■ 


V  '■•■■•  >■ 


sey  was  deserted  by  its  inhabitants,  and  mosil}'  rednced  to 
ashes  by  the  Indians.  Deputations  were  sent  to  Boston, 
to  lay  the  ease  before  the  Massachusetts  uuthorities,  and 
to  sohcit  some  prompt  and  efficient  protection  in  this  ter- 
rible emergency. 

A  party  of  horse  and  foot  were  at  once  dispatched  in 
the  direction  of  Mount  Hope,  under  the  command  of  C'ap- 
tains  Henchman  and  Prentice.  Samuel  Mosely,  a  bold  and 
martial  character,  who  had  pursued  the  calling  of  a  priva- 
teer, raised  a  volunteer  company  of  one  hundred  and  ten 
soldiers,  and  joined  the  expedition.  He  was,  it  is  said,  ac- 
companied by  several  bucanecrs  of  his  own  class,  with  a 
number  of  dogs;  and  the  feats  performed  by  them,  upon 
divers  occasions,  savor  rather  of  the  marvellous. 

The  head-quarters  of  the  united  forces  were  at  the  house 
of  a  minister  of  Swansey,  named  Allies,  and  hard  by  was  a 
bridge,  affording  convenient  access  to  the  domains  of  Philip. 

Captain  Church,  with  the  Plymouth  troops  under  Major 
Cutworth,  were  now  acting  in  concert  with  the  men  from 
^Massachusetts.  The  Indians  lay  concealed  or  skulking 
about  the  garrison,  and  succeeded  in  killing  a  number  by 
sliots  from  covert,  but  showed  themselves  warv  of  cominar 
to  Open  combat. 

A  detachment  of  Prentice's  men,  led  by  a  Mr.  Gill  and 
one  Belcher,  made  an  attempt  upon  the  enem_;  in  their 
own  quarters,  but,  upon  crossing  Miles'  bridge,  were  fired 
upon  by  some  of  the  Indians  lying  in  ambush,  and  one 
of  their  number  was  killed.  Gill  was  struck  by  a  ball, 
which  would  have  proved  mortal  but  for  a  singular  spe- 
cies of  defensive  armor,  viz:  a  quantity  of  thick  brown 
paper  which  he  had  inserted  under  his  clothes.  The  troops 
retreated,  leaving  Church,  Gill,  and  another  to  bring  off 
the  dead  man;  v/hich,  being  accomplished,  Church  pur- 
sued and  regained  his  horse,  under  the  full  fire  of  the  enemy. 

The  next  day  the  bridge  was  crossed  by  a  larger  force, 


NEW  EXGLAXD   INDIANS. 


239 


and,  after  some  skirmisliing,  in  vhi'  h  "Ensign  Savage, 
that  young  martial  spark,  scarce  twenty  years  of  age,"  was 
shot  through  the  thigh — as  Church  says,  by  an  accidental 
ball  from  his  own  party — the  neck  of  Mount  Hope  was 
cleared  of  Indians.  The  English  there  found  Philip's  de- 
serted wigwam,  and  the  mutilated  remains  of  a  number 
of  the  murdered  whites. 

It  was  now  proposed  to  secure  the  ground  already  gained 
by  the  erection  of  a  fort.  Church  ridiculed  the  plan,  and 
urgently  advocated  a  brisk  pursuit  of  the  enemy  in  tlic 
Pocassct  country,  whither  they  had  doubtless  fled.  Fj'om 
disregard  to  this  advice,  Philip  had  free  scope  to  extend 
his  devastations  unchecked  toward  the  cast,  and  terrible 
destruction  ensued,  as  we  sliall  see  hereafter. 

Early  in  July,  Captains  Church  and  Fuller,  Avitli  six 
files  of  soldiei's,  were  sent  across  to  Khodc  Island,  thence 
to  cross  Sogkon ate  river,  and  endeavor  to  communicate  with 
tlic  Pocassct  and  Sogkonate  Indians.  About  the  same  time, 
Captain  Ilutcliinson,  frora  Boston,  arrived  at  the  English 
encampment,  having  been  commissioned  to  treat  witli  and 
gain  over  the  Narragansetts.  In  pursuance  of  this  pur- 
pose, Ilutcliinson,  witli  Mosely  and  the  ^Massachusetts 
troops,  proceeded  in  arms  to  the  Narragansett  ctjuntry, 
where,  in  concert  with  conunissiouers  from  Connecticut, 
they  concluded  a  futile  and  inoperative  treaty  of  amity 
with  certaiii  Indians  claiming  to  be  chief  counsellors  of 
the  prominent  sachems.  IMie  Narragansetts  were  bound, 
by  the  stii)ulations  of  this  alliance,  to  render  up  all  of 
Philip's  subjects  who  should  be  found  in  their  country — 
receiving  two  coats  for  every  prisoner,  and  one  coat  for 
every  head — and  to  carry  on  active  war  against  the  enemies 
of  the  whites.  Hostages  were  given  to  ensure  the  per- 
formance of  the  engagement. 

While  this  child's  play  was  enacting.  Fuller  and  Church, 
with  their  little  band  of  thirly-six  men,  had  penetrated 


W0 


■  ■        Pi'  'mi 


I  ;' 


f-''/: 


240 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AMERICA. 


into  the  country  of  the  Pocassets.  After  some  ■unsucces.'irul 
attempts  to  entrap  the  enemy  by  means  of  ambuscude,  (tlic 
concealed  compp-  y  bein'r  betriyed  by  incautiously  grati- 

plague,    lust    after  tobacco,'') 

'V  companions,  with  the  consent 

;  ust  at  Pocassct,  and  marched 


.IT: 


I  w ..' 


fying  their  "ej^ 
Church  and  fiftee. 
of  Captain  Fuller, 
southward. 

They  struck  an  Indian  trail  leauing  towards  an  extensive 
pine  swamp,  but  the  company  becoming  u;  armed  by  the 
numbers  of  rattlesnakes  which  abounded  there,  left  the 
track,  and  w^nt  down  into  Punkatese  neck.  At  this  place, 
which  is  situated  on  the  south-western  part  of  the  modern 
town  of  Tiverton,  they  encoimtei'ed  a  large  body  of  the 
natives  in  and  around  a  pease-field  of  Captain  Alniy. 
They  numbered,  as  Church  was  afterwards  told  by  some  of 
their  own  party,  about  three  hundred ;  but,  as  they  pursued 
the  usual  course  of  savage  warfare,  fh-ing  from  behind 
trees  and  thickets,  the  English  could  form  no  estimate  of 
the  force  with  which  they  were  to  contend. 

In  this  extremity  the  courage,  coolness,  and  self-posses- 
sion of  the  gallant  captain  were  eminently  conspicuous. 
As  forcibly  expressed  in  Church's  narrative,  "the  hill 
seemed  to  move,  being  covered  over  with  Indians,  with 
their  bright  guns  glittering  in  the  sun." 

A  detachment  had  been  sent  down  the  river  in  boats  to 
support  the  troojjs  on  land,  and  could  be  plainly  seen, 
landed  upon  the  Ehode  Island  shoi'e,  across  the  river. 
Church  bade  his  men  strip  to  their  shirt-sleeves,  and  fire 
signal  guns  to  attract  attention,  and  show  their  allies  tliat 
the  party  engaged  was  Knglish.  This  course  succeeded, 
and  a  boat  put  out,  and  approached  the  combatants ;  but, 
on  approaching  the  shore,  the  crew  received  such  a  volley 
from  the  guns  of  the  Indians,  that  they  pulled  off  again. 
Church,  e'  raged  at  their  pusillanimity,  finally  ordered  the 
boat  oft",  and  threatencKl  to  fire  into  her  himself.     Tliese 


m- 


e,  (the 
•  gratl- 
acco,'") 
;onsci>t 
larclied 

tensive 
by  tlie 
left  the 
is  place, 
modern 
\j  of  the 
L  Alnij% 
some  of 
piirsnccl 
bchiiHl 
imate  of 

If-posses- 
picuous. 
the  hill 

luis,  ^villl 


boats  to  j 
nly  seen, 
ic  river. 

and  fire 
Hies  that 
uccecdetl, 
ints;  but, 
1  u  volley 
otf  again, 
(lercd  the 
f.    These 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


241 


few  men,  thus  loft  to  shift  for  themselves,  now  seemed  to 
be  in  a  desperate  eondition.  They  were  faint  for  want  of 
food,  as  they  had  neglected  to  bring  any  provisions,  other 
than  a  few  cakes  of  rusk,  and  had  beeu  driven  from  the 
pease-field  while  endeavoring  to  allay  their  hunger  with 
the  crude  nourishment  within  their  reach.  The  Indians 
beset  them  on  all  sides,  and,  gaining  pos.session  of  the 
ruins  of  an  old  stone-house,  poured  their  bullets  upon  the 
English  from  its  shelter.  The  ammunition  of  Church's 
party  was  nearly  expended,  and  their  jtowder  was  poor  and 
inefficient.  In  the  midst  of  these  difficulties,  the  captain 
succeeded  in  preserving  t)ie  courage  and  spirit  of  his  men, 
pointing  out  to  them  how  providentially  the  balls  seemed 
to  be  directed.  • 

They  were  finally  relieved  from  their  perilous  situation 
hy  the  arrival  of  a  sloop  of  Captain  Golding,  an  acquaint- 
auee  of  Church.  Mooring  the  vessel  at  a  short  distance, 
he  cast  olf  a  canoe,  and  sufi'ered  it  to  drive  ashore.  In 
this  slight  vehicle,  which  would  carry  but  two  at  a  time, 
the  whole  of  the  party  got  off  to  the  sloop,  by  a  repetition 
of  the  same  operation.  Church,  who  had  left  his  hat  at  a 
spring,  declared  that  the  enemy  should  not  have  it  as  a 
trophy ;  and,  loading  his  gun  with  his  last  charge  of  pow- 
der, he  went  up  alone,  in  the  face  of  the  Indians,  and 
recovered  it.  When  going  on  board  in  the  canoe,  a  ball 
struck  a  small  stake  just  before  his  breast,  and  another 
passed  through  his  hair. 

Joining  company  next  day  with  Fuller's  party,  who  had 
also  been  engaged  with  the  Indians  at  Pocasset,  they  all 
returned  to  the  encampment  at  Mount  Uope,  where  the 
army,  as  Church  averred,  "lay  still  to  cover  the  peo})]e 
from  nobody,  while  they  were  building  a  fort  for  nothing." 

Shortly  after  this,  being  upon  Ehode  Island,  in  pursuit 
of  supplies  for  the  garrison.  Church  fell  in  with  Alderman, 
a  deserter  from  the  forces  of  Weetamore,  queen  of  Pocas- 
If  . 


;    :,V';   'li't.^'iij 

r  ■■>; 


i^. 


r^vi 


3  VS  ?»': : ,,  if  iilf 


1:1  J^-K  -V.  .:. 


242 


INDIAN   KACES  OF  AMERICA. 


set.  By  conversation  witli  this  Indian,  he  learned  tlio 
precise  spot  at  wliich  the  squaw  sachem  was  eneannjcd, 
and,  in  pursuance  of  his  auggcstion,  an  expedition  wiis 
immediately  set  on  foot  against  her.  ^I'lic  attemi)t  termin- 
ated in  an  unimportant  skirmish;  the  chief  officer  of  the 
riymouth  men  being  timid,  and  the  Indians  retiring  to  a 
swamp  of  difficult  access. 

On  the  18tli  of  July,  the  united  forces  of  the  colonists 
drove  Philip,  with  a  large  body  of  his  warriors,  into  an 
extensive  swamp  in  Pocasset.  After  an  imperfect  exam- 
ination of  the  Indians'  place  of  retreat,  the  forces  were 
drawn  off,  having  sustained  considerable  loss  by  the  fire 
of  the  lurking  enemy.  It  was  averred,  indeed,  by  some, 
that  half  an  lujur  more  of  energetic  pursuit  would  have 
secured  Philip,  and  ]>erhaps  have  ended  tlic  war.  One 
hundred  ne^vly-erected  wigwams  were  found  deserted  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  swamp;  and  an  old  man,  who  had  been 
left  behind  in  the  pre('ii)itato  retreat,  confirmed  the  supjjo- 
sition  that  Philip  had  but  lately  fled  from  the  camp. 

Not  farfroiM  this  time,  the  town  of  Dartmouth  havinc,^ 
been,  in  great  measure,  destroyed  by  the  enemy,  a  large 
number  of  Indians,  no  less  than  one  hundred  and  sixty, 
who  had  dwelt  in  the  country  thereabout,  and  were  not 
active  partakers  in  the  destruction  of  the  town,  delivered 
themselves  up  to  one  Captain  Eels,  u])()n  promises  of  giKid 
treatment.  They  were,  nevertheless,  taken  to  Plymoutli; 
sold  by  the  colonial  authorities  as  slaves;  and  transported 
to  foreign  parK  Captains  Church  and  PJels  made,  upon 
this  occasion,  the  most  vehement  remonstranci'S,  exijresscd 
by  Church  with  his  charactc^ristic  energy  and  .spirit;  but 
all  to  no  purpose,  as  it  only  secured  him  the  ill-will  of  the 
government.  The  act  wivs  grossly  impolitic,  as  well  as 
perfidious  and  cruel. 

The  English  entertained  hopes  of  being  able  to  confine 
Philip  within  the  limita  of  the  swamp  to  which  he  had 


rctircf 

an  exj 

futile 

1 

had  ab 

which 

|!                   the  riv 

people 

1 

tended 

tion  or 

i 

A   p;i 

' 

j     Ilenclm 

r 

the  Mol 

1               I   cashad 

^M 

of  the  A 

of    gOO(i 

;,    1 

against  J 

i    1 

Jlcnch 

1     '!  dcnce,  ai 

H         once  on 

■     ';   portion 

■         about  th 

■     '    liogans  s 

I   1         and  fi'(jti 

■     J     Ilenchni 

■      !    while  th 

■    1     own  cou 

■ 

the  KudJ 

1 

scttlemeil 

I    j        TheNi 

■    1     crn  porti 

-.  M        adjoininj 

to  have  ■ 

^H 

don,  a  sni 

,   ■        dence,  a| 

.  H 

settlemeil 

y^ 


NEW  ENGLAND   INDIANS. 


243 


rctir(3(],  and  proceeded  to  erect  another  fort  at  Pocassct; 
an  cx|H(liciit  whicli  seems  to  have  been  as  ill-advised  and 
futile  as  the  garrisoning  of  Mount  Hope.  The  sachem 
had  abundant  leisure  to  prepare  canoes,  an  opportunity  of 
which  he  diligently  availed  himself,  and  secretly  passed 
the  river  with  all  his  warriors.  They  were  seen  by  tlic 
people  of  Rehoboth,  crossing  the  open  country,  which  ex- 
tended for  some  distance,  and  offered  no  means  of  protec- 
tion or  concealment  to  the  fugitives. 

A  party  was  speedily  sent  in  pursuit,  under  Captain 
Henchman,  accompanied  by  Ownioco,  the  son  of  Uncas 
the  Mohegan,  and  a  considerable  band  of  Avarriors.  Un- 
cas had  sent  this  detachment  to  Hoston,  upon  the  summons 
of  the  Massachusetts  authorities,  to  renew  his  assuranc(>s 
of  good  faith,  and  profler  assistance  in  the  campaign 
against  Philip, 

Henchman's  company  proceeded  up  the  river  to  Provi- 
dence, and  being  there  somewhat  reinforced,  hastened  at 
once  on  the  trail  of  the  NVampanoag.  Coming  up  with  a 
portion  of  the  enemy,  a  sharp  engagement  ensued,  and 
about  thirty  of  Philip's  warriors  were  killed,  but  the  Mo- 
hogans  stopping  for  plunder,  the  principal  force  escaped, 
and  from  that  time  were  no  more  seen  by  the  pursuers, 
llcnchman  retu''ned  with  his  men  to  the  eastern  colonies, 
while  the  Mohegans  took  their  way  .southward  to  their 
own  countrv,  leaving  Philip  to  pursue  his  course  towards 
the  Hudson,  and  to  rouse  up  the  war  among  the  westei-n 
settlements  of  Ma.ssacliusetts. 

The  Nipmucks,  a  large  tribe  inhabiting  the  north-ca.st- 
ern  portion  of  the  present  state  of  Connecticut,  and  the 
adjoining  Ma.ssachusetts  districts,  appear,  ere  this  period, 
to  have  become  involved  in  Philip's  undertaking.  Men- 
don,  a  small  town,  twenty-four  miles  westward  from  Provi- 
dence, and  standing  at  some  distance  from  any  other 
settlement,  had  been  attacked  on  the  llth  of  July,  and  a 


>H  fiif&f  'I 

t 

Jtll      ,  1     ,-,      ■  kH.','. 


'<i<M 


It' 


T'^'  him 


244 


INDIAN  ra(;ks  of  amkuica. 


•'i:,''' 


'■  ■  •  .  -I" 


.  ■:>.. 


if'-'''. 


number  of  men  killed  by  shots  from  an  unseen  enemy. 
The  whole  of  the  inhabitiiiits  deserted  the  phieo  in  terror, 
and  it  was  reduced  to  ashes  l)y  the  assailants. 

The  colonies  att(Mn[)tetl,  after  this,  to  treat  with  the 
Nipnuu'k  saehenus,  but  found  them  reserved  and  "surly." 
A  meeting  was,  liowever,  apjioiniod  between  them  and 
nn  embassy  fnnn  the  Massachusetts  goverinnent.  Captains 
Wheeler  and  Hutchinson,  with  a  considerable  body  of 
mounted  men,  repaired  to  the  place  of  meetin^f  at  the  tiim; 
designated,  vi/:  the  2d  of  August;  but,  instead  of  coming 
forward  in  friendly  conference,  the  Indians,  to  the  number  of 
two  or  three  hundred,  formed  an  ambuscade,  and,  firing  sud- 
denly from  tlieir  cover,  killed  eight  of  the  whites  at  the  fn-st 
discharge.    Hutchinson  was  killed  and  WluM'lcr  wounded. 

The  company,  avoiding  the  other  spots  whert;  they  sns- 
l^ected  the  enemy  to  be  lying  in  aml)ush,  made  the  best 
of  their  way  to  Brookfield,  a  solitary  village  near  the 
principal  head-quarters  of  the  Nipmueks,  The  Indians, 
in  great  numbers,  pursued  them  into  the  town.  Thev 
found  the  terrified  inhabitants  colle(!ted  in  a  single  house, 
which  stood  on  a  rising  ground,  where  tlu-y  iiad  foililicd 
themselves  as  well  as  possible,  upon  such  an  emer- 
gency, by  ])iling  logs  and  hanging  feather  beds  against 
the  walls.  Wheeler  and  his  eomj)anions  also  entered  the 
house,  and  the  savages,  after  burning  all  the  buildings  in 
the  town,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  immediately  adjoin- 
ing that  where  the  whites  had  retreated,  laid  close  siege  to 
the  frail  fortification.  Seventy  peojde,  inchuling  Avonxni 
and  children,  were  here  crowded  together,  with  such  slight 
defences  as  wc  have  mentioned;  while  an  enraged  and  re- 
morseless enemy  was  pouring  showers  of  bullets  through 
the  walls,  and  using  eveiy  endeavor  to  fire  the  hoiisi;. 
The  Indians  shot  burning  arrows  upon  the  roof,  and, 
attaching  rags  dipped  in  brimstone  to  long  poles,  they  set 
fire  to  them,  and  thrust  them  agjiinst  the  walls.    From  the 


fT"- 


aflerno 
evening 
'   the  bes 
mable  i 
attacluM 
distance 
in  the  e 
ing  CO  III 
heavy  s 
mass.     1 
gem,"  bi 
have  b('( 
en  into  t 
tinnally 
lo  ex( 
J)laeed   w 
town;  bn 
1 1  the  India 
'  (ion  of  1 
;;  olli'cting 
night.     I 
i   as  tiiey  p, 
her  of  te 
{   conflagra 
the  dark 
stance,  as| 
•Irew  olf 
tired   to 
Philip  wil 
was  killei 
said,  neaj 
A  garri 
for  some  I 
was  burn 
desolate. 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


245 


iiftcrnoon  of  Monday  tlie  2(1  of  vVu<,mst,  till  Wednesday 
evening,  these  uHsaults  eontinned;  and,  as  a  last  uttctnpt, 
the  besiegers  loaded  a  eurt  with  hemp  and  other  in  Ham- 
mablc  materials,  and  binding  together  a  number  of  ])oles,  so 
attached  to  the  vehicle  that  it  could  be  moved  from  a  sale 
distance,  wheeled  it  blazii'.g  against  the  building.  Tliis  was 
in  the  evcsning.  Mid,  according  to  Wheeler's  account,  noth- 
ing could  iiave  ])rcscrvcd  the  unfortuiuite  inmates,  had  notii 
heavy  shower  of  rain  suddenly  extinguished  the  burning 
mass.  In  the  words  of  Hubbard,  by  "this  develish  strata- 
gem," but  for  the  rain,  "all  tiie  poor  peoiile  would  eitlicr 
have  b(!en  consumed  by  merciless  flames,  or  els('  have  I'all- 
cn  into  tlu;  hands  of  their  cruel  enemies,  lilvc  wolves  con- 
tinually yelling  and  gaping  for  their  prey." 

To  exclude  all  assistance  from  without,  the  Indians  had 
])laced  watchers  and  and)uscadcs  niion  all  sides  (>['  tho 
town  ;  but  Majcu'  Willard,  who  had  been  dlsj)atched  against 
the  Indians  west  of  Groton,  hearing  of  the  probabli!  condi- 
tion of  Brook  field,  marched  to  its  relief,  and  succeeded  in 
ellccting  an  entrance  to  tho  fortified  house  on  this  same 
night.  He  had  with  him  forty-six  men,  but  it  is  said  that, 
as  they  passed  ihrough  the  ruins  of  the  town,  a  large  num- 
ber of  terrified  cattle,  who  had  not  been  destroyed  in  tho 
conflagration,  followed  them  for  prot(>ction;  and  that,  in 
tlie  darkness,  the  Indians  were  dcceiveci  by  this  ciixtum- 
.stance,  as  to  the  number  of  the  party,  and  accordingly 
drew  off  their  forces  early,  the  next  morning.  They  re- 
tired to  a  swamp,  twelve  miles  distant,  where  they  met 
Phili]i  with  a  band  of  his  warrioiv  ^idy  one  of  the  whites 
was  killed  on  this  occasion,  while  tho  Indians  lost,  it  is 
said,  nearly  eighty. 

A  garrison  was  maintained  at  the  only  remaining  house 
for  some  months,  but  was  finally  drawn  off,  the  building 
was  burned  by  the  savages,  and  the  town  left  entirely 
desolate. 


■■'■  :yim 


,'  •      '     ■,'■■>.,' 


m 


1 1''  tfif 


246 


INDIAN   RACES   OF   A5IEKICA/ 


CHAPTER  VI. 


PHIMP  MOVES  WESTWARD ATTACKS  ON  HAUI.KY  AND  DEERFIELD— . 

GOFFE  THE  REGICIDE DESTRUCTION  OK  LATHKOp's  COMMAND 

ASSAULTS  ON    SPRINGFIELD  AND    HATFIELD EXPEDITION 

AGAINST  THE  NAKRAGANSETTS  :    OUTRAGEOUS  CRUEL- 

TIES  IN  THEIR  REDUCTION PHILIP  ON  THE  HUDSON 

DESTRUCTION  OF  LANCASTER,  MEDFIELD,  SEE- 

KONK,  GROTON,  WARWICK,  MARLBOROUGH, 

ETC. CANONCHET  TAKEN  AND    PUT    TO 

DEATH FURTHER  INDIAN  RAVAGES. 

"All  died — the  wailiiio;  babe — the  sbrickiitg  ii'uid — 
And  in  the  flood  of  tire  tlmt  8i:atlied  the  glade, 
•Tlie  root's  went  down." — Bkyant. 

We  can  do  little  more,  in  continuing  this  account  of 
Indian  ravages,  than  enunierate  the  towns  and  settlenieiits 
destroyed,  and  the  little  coininunities  massacred  or  driven 
from  their  homes  in  utter  destitution. 

The  terrible  uncertainty  whicli  attended  these  calamities 
rendered  them  the  more  distressing.  No  one  could  toll, 
for  many  months  from  this  time,  where  Philip  was  to  Ije 
found,  or  at  what  point  he  meditated  the  next  attack.  Ife 
continued  his  westward  progress,  as  is  supposed,  nearly  to 
the  Hudson,  through  the  Mohegan  country,  lie  was 
thought  to  be  present  at  many  of  the  successful  and  mur- 
derous assaults  that  were  made  upon  the  white  settlements; 
but,  if  so,  he  was  enabled  so  to  disguise  himself  as  not  to 
be  distinctly  recognized. 

Moscly  and  others  in  vain  scoured  the  country  in  ])Mr- 
suit  of  the  Indians.  The  enemy,  neglecting  agriculture, 
and  deserting  their  usual  haunts,  concealed  themselves  in 
swamps  and  thickets,  retiring  unpcrceived  at  the  approach 
of  regular  troops,  and  ever  ready  to  take  advantage  of 
any  weak  and  unprotected  quarter. 


NEW  ENGLAND   INDIANS. 


247 


The  Indians  in  the  vicinity  of  Ilaclley  and  Springfield, 
on  the  Connecticut,  were  relied  upon  by  the  whites  as 
friendly  and  well-disposed;  but  ere  long  it  was  sufficiently 
plain  that  they  had  made  common  cause  with  Philip. 

On  the  1st  of  September,  Iladley  and  Deerfield  were 
both  fiercely  assaulted,  and  the  latter  town  in  great  meas- 
ure destroyed.  At  Iladley  the  Indians  were  driven  oif 
after  much  hard  fighting.  The  inhabitants  were  engaged 
in  religious  exercises  at  the  meeting-house,  with  arms,  as 
usual,  by  their  sides,  when  the  Indians  came  upon  them. 
So  sudden  and  desperate  was  the  attack,  tliat  they  became 
confused,  and  might  have  been  totally  discomfited,  but  for 
a  strange  and  unlooked-for  champion.  This  was  an  old 
man,  with  white  and  flowing  locks,  and  unusual  costume, 
who  appeared  from  some  utdcnown  quarter,  and  at  once 
assumed  the  command  of  the  panic-strieken  congregation. 
With  military  skill  and  coolness  he  directed  every  ma- 
lueuvre,  and  so  reestablished  their  confidence  and  spirit, 
that  the  enemy  was  speedily  put  to  fliglit.  He  disappeared 
immediately  after  the  engagement,  and  many  of  the  aston- 
ished inhabitants  were  persnaded  that  an  angel  from  heaven 
had  been  miraculously  sent  for  their  deliverance. 

The  old  warrior  was  no  other  than  Major-general  Gofi'e, 
who,  with  his  companion,  Whalley,  lay  for  a  long  time  con- 
cealed at  the  house  of  Mr.  Russell,  the  minister  of  Iladley. 

Ten  men  were  killed  at  Nortlifield  about  this  time,  and 
a  party  of  thirty-six,  under  a  Captain  Beers,  who  had  been 
sent  to  relieve  the  town,  were  nearly  all  cut  oil'  by  an 
ambush.  The  bodies  were  mutilated,  and  the  heads  set 
on  poles.  "  One,  (if  not  more,")  says  Hubbard,  "  was  found 
with  a  chain  hooked  into  his  under  jaw,  and  so  hung  up 
on  the  bough  of  a  tree,  (it  is  feared  he  was  hung  uj)  alive.") 

Several  thousand  bushels  of  corn  had  been  stored  at 
Deerfield,  and  a  company  of  nearly  one  hundred  young 
men,  "the  flower  of  the  country,"  under  the  conunand  of 


I. . 


ft  jitj 


I.  . 


V:'  ■ 


if 

i  ill  ^« 


M'  mm 


l.^: 


•I'V 

r  1 


m 


;?.:■ 


>i^'^ 


v';','''f'Sl 


'i.'.'l 


— ll 


248 


INDIAN   RACES   OF  AMERICA, 


U'^!?.vv 


a  youthful  and  gallant  officer,  Captain  Latlirop,  marched 
to  secure  it.  On  their  way,  an  immense  body  of  Indians 
fell  upon  them,  and  slew  nearly  the  whole  party;  among 
the  rest,  the  brave  commander;  only  seven  or  eight  sur- 
vived. This  defeat  is  attributed  to  the  circumstance  that 
Lathrop,  aware  of  the  disadvantages  which  a  compact 
body  of  troops  must  labor  under,  when  contending  Avitli 
an  enemy  who  always  fired  from  cover,  ordered  his  men 
to  sej)arate,  and  take  to  the  trees,  like  their  o])ponents. 
Tliis  being  done,  the  disproportion  of  numbers  proved  so 
great,  that  the  Indians  were  enabled  to  surround  the 
English,  and  cut  them  off  separately. 

'I'lie  ISpringlield  Indians  had  ])retended  unbroken  friend- 
sliij)  for  the  wliites,  and  had  given  hostages  as  pledges  of 
good  faith;  but  the  liostages  succeeded  in  escaping,  and 
the  whole  body  joined  the  hostile  confederacy,  witli  those 
of  Iladky,  "lianging  together  like  serpent's  eggs."  The 
town  of  ,Si)ring(ield  received  great  in-ury  from  their 
attack,  more  tlian  tliirty  houses  being  burned;  among  tlie 
rest,  one  containing  a  "brave  library,"  the  finest  in  that 
part  of  the  country,  which  belonged  to  the  Rev.  Pehitiah 
Glover.  Hubbard  considers  that  this  act  "did,  more  tliau 
any  other,  diseovei'  the  said  aetoi'stobe  tlie  children  of  the 
devil,  full  of  all  sul)tiltv  and  inaliee,"  as  they  had  been  upon 
friendly  terms  with  the  whites  for  more  than  forty  years. 

On  the  19tli  of  October,  seven  or  eight  hundied  of 
Philip's  coadjutors  made  an  attemjit  upon  ITatllcld;  but, 
the  place  being  well  defended,  by  Alosely  and  ')tliers,  the 
enemy  "were  so  well  entertained  on  all  liands,  tliat  chev 
found  it  too  hot  for  them." 

This  was  tht;  last  imi)ortant  engagement  at  the  westward 
part  of  the  colony.  Most  of  Phili{)'s  men  are  suj)posed 
to  have  betaken  themselves,  before  winter,  to  i\\o  Narra- 
gansctt  country;  and  whether  the  great  sachem  himself 
remained  concealed  among  them  during  tluxt  season,  or 


NEW  ENGLAND   INDIANS. 


249 


wandered  to  the  west,  hatching  new  plots  in  the  vioinity 
of  the  Hudson,  is  not  certainly  known. 

The  condition  of  the  hostile  Indians,  notwithstanding 
their  signal  successes,  must  b}'  this  time  have  become 
sufficiently  miserable.  Living  almost  exclusively  upon 
animal  food;  ill  protected  from  the  inclemencies  of  the 
weather;  and  continually  shifting  their  quarters,  it  is 
surprising  that  they  should  so  long  have  retained  their 
energy  and  fixedness  of  purpose. 

In  September  of  this  year,  1675,  the  commissioners  of 
the  united  colonics  of  Plymouth,  Connecticut,  and  Massa- 
chusettSjbeing  in  session  at  lioston,  concluded  arrangements 
bv  which  the  war  should  be  jointly  and  systematically 
pr(«ecuted.  One  thousand  men  were  to  be  levied  and 
equipped;  the  proportion  wliieh  each  colony  should  furni^'h 
being  settled  according  to  th(ur  comparative  popuhition 
and  "csources. 

On  the  2d  of  November  it  was  agreed,  by  the  same 
body,  that  an  additional  force  sliould  be  raised,  and  active 
measures  be  taken  against  the  Narragansetts.  The  reasoi^.s 
allcdged  for  attacking  this  tribe  were,  that  the  stipidation 
made  by  those  snchenis,  who  had  treated  with  the  colonies 
to  deliver  up  all  of  Piiilip's  party  who  should  take  refuge 
at  Narragansett,  had  not  been  fullilled;  but  that  women, 
children,  and  wounded  men  had  been  succored  and  received 
by  them!  In  addition  to  this,  some  of  the  tribe  had  ex- 
pressed satisfaetioii  upon  hearing  of  the  Indian  successes 
at  Iladley,  and  it  was  "credil)ly  rejiorted"  that  they  had 
killed  and  taken  away  numy  cattle  from  the  neighboring 
English.  These,  with  a  detention  of  a  Mr.  Smith  and  Ins 
family,  for  a  short  time, — no  other  harm  being  done 
them, — were  all  the  ostensible  grounds  upon  which  a 
f()rmida1)le  army  was  sent  to  exterminate  the  Narragan- 
setts with  fire  and  sword! 

'•0  doubt  their  sympathies  were  with  those  of  their  own 


[L 


'  t' 


'•'■U  ■ 


t, '! 


250 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  ASIEllICA. 


I  i 


L 


race,  and,  had  tlicy  fully  joined  the  conspiracy,  the  addition 
of  so  numerous  a  tribe  to  the  enemy  might  have  turned 
the  scale,  and  resulted  in  the  annihilation  of  the  whites. 

Josias  Winslow,  governor  of  Plymouth  colony,  was 
chosen  commander-in-chief  of  the  English  force.  Church, 
at  the  request  of  Winslow,  joined  the  expedition,  altliough 
he  would  not  accept  of  a  commission.  A  considerable 
body  of  ]\toliegans,  subjects  of  Uncas,  accompanied  the 
detachment  fi'om  Connecticut. 

After  destro3nng  many  deserted  wigwams,  and  taking  a 
considerable  number  of  prisoners  in  desultory  warfare,  a 
guide  was  obtained  to  pilot  the  invuders  to  the  chief  fort 
of  the  Narragansetts.  The  encampment  covered  five  or 
six  acres  of  elevated  giound,  forming  an  island  ir,  the 
midst  of  na  extensive  swamp.  In  addition  to  the  natural 
defences  of  the  ])lace.  the  whole  village  Avas  suriiMiuded 
by  a  strong  palisade,  and  the  ,ily  means  of  ai)proach 
\^as  by  crossing  the  marsh  upc  i  huge  fallea  tr<>o.  'I'x 
wigwams  within,  to  the  nuril  ^  of  five  or  six  huuditvl, 
were  rendered,  to  a  great  extern,  'ull'^tproof  by  piling  up 
tubs  of  grain  and  other  stores  abor.i  Jiie  sii|.s. 

It  was  upon  the  10th  o^  December,  coi  .■  in  the  after- 
noon, that  the  English  forces  reached  this  place  of  retreat. 
With  determined  and  desperate  courage  they  rushed  to  the 
attack.  I'ile  after  file  of  soldiers,  with  their  olhcers  at 
their  head,  was  swept  from  the  narrow  bridge  by  the  fire 
of  a  party  within,  posted  in  a  log  hut,  from  which  the 
approach  was  connnanded.  They  continued  to  jn'ess  on, 
and  succeeded  in  driving  the  Indians  from  this  covei't  into 
the  main  inclosure.  A  scene  of  terrible  carnage  ensued 
for  several  hours ;  but  the  assailants  steadily  gained  ground, 
driving  many  of  the  enemy  into  the  swamp,  and  covering 
the  an'a  within  with  dead  bodies. 

Church,  who  had  m-^de  an  excursion,  with  a  small  party, 
f'llo  the  /.vamp,  to  attack  the  Indians  in  the  rear,  and  who. 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


251 


after  doing  good  service,  Avas  severely  wounded  in  tlie 
tbigli,  seeing  some  setting  fire  to  the  wigwams,  made 
strenuou?  efforts  to  jjrc  v'cut  their  destruction.  The  weather 
was  intensely  cold;  right  was  coming  on;  many  of  the 
troops  were  destitute  of  provisions ;  a  heavy  snow  storm 
Avas  brooding;  and  sixteen  miles  must  be  traversed  by 
i;ho  army,  encuuibered  by  their  wounded,  before  they 
jould  roach  sheltci-.  lie  represented  all  these  circum- 
stances tc  the  general,  pointing  out  the  advantages  of 
obtaining  j)lentiful  supjilies  of  food,  and  a  warm  cover 
^A^.ere  the  wounded  could  receive  requisite  attention. 
vV;.  will  hope  that  some  feelings  of  humanity  towards  the 
I'liibrtunatc  women  and  children,  with  which  the  huts  were 
crowded,  formed  a  part  of  his  motives  for  this  advice. 

The  general  inclined  to  Church's  counsel,  but  other 
officers,  fearing  that  tbe  Indians  would  rally  and  attack 
t';em  Ml  force,  should  the  army  take  up  their  quarters  for 
the  night,  vehementlj'  opposed  him,  and  the  woi'k  of  de- 
btruction  proceeded.  Now  was  reenacted  the  terrible  scene 
at  the  tort  of  the  Pequots.  Great  uumbers  of  old  men, 
women  and  children  were  burned  alive  in  the  blazing  wig- 
ivams,  or  mercilessly  slain  in  their  attempts  to  escape. 
Hubbard,  the  reverend  historian  of  the  Indian  wars,  speaks 
of  this  "firing  of  at  least  five  or  six  hundred  of  their 
siiioaky  cells,"  as  follows:  The  Indians  were  about  pre- 
paring their  dinner  wlien  "our  sudden  and  unexpected 
assault  put  them  beside  that  work,  making  their  cook- 
room  too  hot  for  them  at  th.it  time,  when  they  and  their 
mitchin  fried  together;  and  probably  some  of  them  eat 
their  suppers  in  a  colder  ])]acc  that  night :  ]\Iost  of  their 
provisions,  as  well  as  huts,  being  then  consumed  with  fire, 
and  those  tho':  were  left  alive  forced  to  hide  themselves  in 
a  cedar  swamp,  not  far  off,  where  they  had  nothing  to  de- 
fend them  from  the  cold  but  boughs  of  spruce  and  pine 
trees."     The  whole  town  was  reduced  to  ashes;  and,  leav- 


'"■'[•'i'ii' 

'.1    .'(  j'-'ij.   jiiiii'ir'' !(' 


i-iis, 


■t'' :% 


.     h'h 


252 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AMERICA. 


.■!,.#,. 


ing  the  inclosure  a  smoking  ruin,  every  where  strewn  with 
burned  .and  mangled  corpses,  the  army  commenced  a  re- 
treat, worn  out  by  cold,  fatigue  and  hunger,  !^^auy  per- 
ished by  tlie  way,  and  many  more  must  have  died  from 
starvation,  but  for  the  fortunate  arrival  at  their  rendezvous 
of  a  vessel  from  Boston  Avith  provisions. 

Eighty  of  their  number  were  killed,  and  one  himdrod 
and  iifty  wounded  in  the  engagement.  Besides  an  uutokl 
number  of  the  helpless  occupants  of  the  wigwams  who 
perished  in  the  flames,  it  was  supposed  that  not  far  from 
thi'ee  hundred  Indian  warriors  were  slain  outright,  and 
seven  hundred  wounded,  of  whom  many  died  from  expo- 
sure duvliig  the  storm  and  cold  of  that  terrible    light. 

Most  of  the  survivors  of  the  tribe  fled  to  the  Nij)uuu'ks, 
after  some  inconclusive  negotiation  for  peace  with  the  Eng- 
lish. The  old  sachem  Niuigret  seems  to  Luv'c  been  inclined 
to  make  term^,  but  Canonicus,  or  Canonchet,  a  son  of  ^liaii- 
tonimo,  and  a  brave  and  energetic  chief ,  nourished  tlie  most 
unyielding  hostility  towards  the  destroyer  of  his  i)oo]>le. 

On  the  lOtii  of  Jimuarj'^,  an  Indian  was  found  concealed 
in  a  barn,  "but  itier  he  was  brought  to  the  head-qua'  ters"' 
(in  the  words  of  Hubbard)  ''he  would  own  nothing  l)Ut 
what  Wiis  forced  out  of  his  mouth  by  the  icoohHivj  of  liis 
head  ivitli  a  cor  I,  wherefore  he  was  presently  judged  to  die, 
as  a  Wampanoag." 

One  Tift,  an  English  renegade,  who  had  joined  the  In- 
dians, married  one  of  their  women,  and  assisted  them  in 
their  battles  with  the  whites,  was  laken  and  put  to  death. 

"VVinslow,  in  the  latter  part  of  January,  pursued  the 
Narragansotts  into  the  Nipmuck  country,  whither  they 
had  fled,  committing  divers  depredations  on  the  route,  and 
killed  about  seventy  of  those  whom  he  could  come  up 
with.  The  larger  portion,  however,  sncu'ccd.'d  in  joining 
the  forces  of  the  Nipmueks,  while  the  English  were  vnwv 
pelled  tu  retuip  to  the  sctthnient  for  want  of  {)rovisioiis. 


NEW  EXGLAND  INDIANS. 


253 


Philip  is  supp6scd  to  liave  fled  about  this  time  as  fur 
west  as  the  Hudson  river,  ^s'•here,  it  is  said,  "the  Mohags 
(Mohawks)  made  a  descent  upon  hini,  and  killed  many 
of  his  men,  which  moved  hmi  from  thence."  Some  au- 
thors, notwithstanding,  sjicak  of  hini  as  having  been  pres- 
ent at  various  places  in  Massaclnisetts,  attacked  by  Indians 
during  the  latter  j^iart  of  tlie  winter. 

About  the  10th  of  February,  (old  t-f^^yle,")  Lancaster  was 
destroyed  by  a  largo  force  of  the  enemy,  cor  sisting  of  Nip- 
mucks,  Nashawas,  and  Narragansetts,  under  the  noted 
Sagamore  Sam.  The  house  of  Mr.  Rowlandson,  tlie  minis- 
ter, which  was  garrisoned,  and  coiiUiiued  iifty-ilvc  persons, 
was  set  on  fire,  and  the  imnates  were  killed  or  made  cap- 
tives. More  than  twentv  women  and  children  ft'll  into 
the  hands  of  the  assailants.  I^hey  were  n\ost  of  them 
well  treated  during  their  captivity,  the  Indians  "oflcring 
DO  wrong  to  any  of  their  persons  save  what  they  could 
not  help,  being  in  many  wants  themselves."  Mrs.  K^iw- 
landson,  wife  of  the  minister,  was  among  tlie  jtrisonovis, 
and  her  account  of  Indian  manners  and  pcciiliaritics,  wit- 
nessed during  the  three  months  of  her  captivity,  are  ex- 
ceedingly interesting. 

Cluu'cli  says  that  Philip's  next  "kennclling-place"  Avaa 
at  the  falls  on  the  Connecticut,  and  he  probably  gave  di- 
rections concerning  many  of  the  devastations  eunnnitted 
in  February  and  March,  if  not  ]ierson".lly  present  at  them. 

On  the  21st  of  February,  the  town  of  Medlield,  only 
about  twenty  miles  from  Boston,  was  mostly  tlestroyed. 
The  Indians  had  concealed  themselves,  during  the  previ- 
ous night,  in  every  quarter  of  the  place,  and,  at  eaily 
dawn,  lired  about  fifty  buildings  simultaneously.  One  liuu- 
dred  and  sixty  soldiers  wer(>  quartered  in  the  town,  but 
so  sudden  and  well  concerted  was  the  attack,  that  it  Avas 
impossible  to  save  the  buildings  which  had  Iven  set  on 
fire.     Nearly  forty  of  the   inhabitants  were   killed   or 


?• 


lit 


2:.  I 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA, 


wounded.  Being  compelled,  at  lust,  'to  retreat  across 
Cliurles  river,  the  Indians  burned  the  bridge  behind  them, 
and  left  a  jiaper,  written  by  some  of  their  number  who  liad 
received  education  from  the  English,  to  the  followiiif^ 
c'lfect:  "Know,  by  this  paper,  that  the  Indians  wliom  tlum 
hast  provoked  to  wrath  and  anger,  will  war  this  21  years 
if  you  will.  There  are  many  Indians  yet.  We  come  300 
at  this  time.  You  must  consider  the  Indians  lose  nothing 
but  their  life:  You  must  lose  your  fair  houses  and  cattle." 

One  account  states  that  Philip  himself  was  seen  at  tliis 
action,  "riding  upon  a  black  horse,  lea[)ing  over  fences, 
and  exulting  in  the  havoc  he  was  making.'' 

Through  the  months  of  February  and  March,  the  .sav- 
ages met  with  signal  success.  Seekonk,  Groton  and  War- 
wick were  destroyed;  Nt)rthampton  was  assaulted;  one 
liouse  was  burned  in  tlic  very  town  of  Plymouth,  and  a 
number  of  buildings  at  Weymouth,  oidy  eleven  miles  from 
Boston,  shared  a  similar  fate.  Thii'ty  houses  were  burned 
at  Pi  )  'idencc.  Captain  Pierce,  of  Seituate,  Avlio  had  been 
sent  with  a  party  of  fifty  whites  and  a  number  of  IViendly 
Indians  on  an  excursion  against  the  enemy,  was  slain, 
with  the  entire  company  of  P]ngli.sh.  Only  a  lew  cif  the 
Indian  allies  escaped. 

On  the  same  da}'',  Marlborough  was  destroyed,  with  the 
exception  of  the  hou.ses  which  had  been  garrisoned.  This 
attack  was  probaldy  matle  by  Philip  himself,  witli  the 
Nipmuck  and  Narragansett  Indians.  Continuing  their 
mareli,  they  did  much  damage  at  Sudbury,  and  "met  and 
swallowed  up  valiant  Captain  \Vadsworth  and  his  com- 
pany," consisting  of  fifty  men,  with  whom  he  was  hastening 
to  the  relief  of  the  town. 

One  of  the  first  sev(>rc  reverses  experienced  by  Philip, 
waa  the  capture  and  execution  of  the  younger  Canonicua 
or  Canoncliet,  the  noblest  and  most  infhiential  of  the  Nar- 
ragansett sachems.     This  was  accomjilishcd  by  a  i)arty 


>•  >l 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


255 


led  by  Captain  Dennison,  from  Connecticut,  consisting  of 
Knglish,  Nehantic  Indians,  subject  to  Xinigrct,  and  Molie- 
guns,  under  the  connnaud  of  Owenoco,  son  of  Uncas. 
Caiioncliet,  with  a  small  band  of  warriors,  came  to  Narra- 
gansott  early  in  April,  for  the  jjurpose  of  procuring  seed- 
corn  for  his  people  in  the  western  settlenieuts.  Dennison, 
having  heard,  from  a  captive  scpiaw,  of  the  sachem's 
proximity,  pursued  and  took  him. 

The  proud  chief,  ujion  his  ctipture,  being  addressed  by 
a  young  man  of  the  party,  according  to  Hubbard,  "look- 
ing, with  a  little  neglect  upon  his  youthful  face,  replied  in 
broken  English:  'you  much  child:  no  understand  matters 
of  war;  let  your  brother  or  your  chief  come:'  acting  herein 
as  if,  by  a  I'vthiigorcan  nietemj)sychosis,  some  ohl  Jiouian 
ghost  had  }>osscss(.'d  the  body  of  this  western  Pagan."  lie 
was  carried  to  Stonington,  and  there  sliot:  his  head  was 
sent  to  Ilartf()r(l  us  a  ti'o[ih3'.  lie  a})[)roved  his  sentence, 
saying  that  "lie  sliould  die  before  his  heart  was  soft,  and 
before  he  had  spoken  any  thing  unworthy  of  himself" 
lie  had  been  Philip's  faithful  ally  to  the  last,  and  ever 
refused  to  "deliver  uj)  a  AVamjtanoag,  or  the  paring  of  u 
Wauipanoag's  nail,"  to  the  Knglish.  Dennison  and  his 
men  afterwards  made  furtlier  spoil  of  the  enemy,  killing 
and  capturing  a  large  number  of  the  Narragansetts. 

During  the  months  of  April  and  ^fay,  twenty  or  thirty 
buildings  were  bui-ned  in  Plymouth;  '^i  aunton  and  Scituato 
were  attacked,  and  Bj'idgcwater  sustained  no  small  injurv 
from  an  assault  by  three  hundred  Indians,  under  the 
sachem  Tisguogen. 

Great  numbers  of  hostile  Indians  having  congregatctl  at 
the  falls  of  the  Connecticut,  during  the  month  of  ^lay,  for 
the  purpose  of  lishing,  a  strong  force  of  soldiers  and  iid'ab- 
itants  of  tlie  towns  on  the  river,  under  the  command  of 
Captains  Ilolyoke  and  Turner,  made  a  descent  upon  them. 
The  Indians  were  encamped  in  careless  security,  and,  the 


t  f 


A  ^  •  i'   t 


.::\'./y 


:••;»; 


'(I 

'    ''■  ,    •l 

*  '   .■•■'(!l 

*':  ■ 

'  ■■;;,'"»■< I 

'  !'•  '     "'  Z 

.  ,1,  li 


.  J 


•    i\  r   1     ■■;  '';t  '.  ••  '*!.»,  ,   .    it 


256 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AMERICA. 


attack  being  matle  in  tlic  niglit,  some  two  liundivd  woro 
killed,  or  drowiu-d  in  attempting  to  cseape  across  the  river. 
In  the  midst  ol'  this  success  it  was  reported  to  the  Knglish, 
by  an  Jndian,  that  Philip  in  })erson,  witli  an  immense 
force,  was  coming  upon  tiicm.  Commencing  a  retreat, 
upon  this  news,  the  Indians  recovered  from  their  panic, 
and  pursuing  the  party  from  wliich  they  had  so  recently 
iled  in  confusion,  killed  from  thirty  to  forty  of  their  number. 
On  the  oOth  of  ^lay,  six  hundred  Indians  attacked 
Hatfield,  and  burned  many  buildings,  but  the  place  was 
bruvcly  defended,  and  the  enemy  was  driven  olf.  A  still 
larger  ninuber,  about  a  fortnight  later,  assaulted  Iladloy, 
but,  by  the  assistance  of  troo})s  from  Connecticut,  the  in 
habitants  successfully  rei)ulled  them. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Philip's  FuvrriiN  to  fokanokkt — major  tai.cott's  successes — 

CHUKCFI  COMiMISSIONKI)  BY  THE  COUKT  AT  PLYMOUTH HIS  IS- 

TEKVIEW  WITH  AWOSHONKS  :    WITH  THE  SOGKONATES  AT 

SANinVIClI ins  CAMI'AKi.N  ACAINSTTHE  INDIANS 

PHILIP    seen:      his     wife     AND    SON    TAKEN 

DEATH  OF  WKETAMOHE,  QUEEN  OK  POCAS- 
SET — DEATH  OF  PHILIP. 

Philip's  power  was  now  upon  the  decline:  his  forces 
were  discontented,  and  in  separate  bodies  wandered  about 
the  country,  undergoing  much  hardship  and  ])rivati()ii. 
Losing  influence  with  the  river  Indians,  and  unable  to 
concentrate  tlie  various  tribes,  with  effect,  he  returned  to 
his  old  quarters  in  the  vicinity  of  Narragansctt  bay,  ac- 
companied by  the  trusty  warriors  who  still  adhc^red  to  liim. 

Major  Talcott,  from  Connecticut,  with  a  l)ody  of  mounted 
men,  accompanied  by  many  Mohegans  and  Pequots,  sig- 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


257 


nalized  himself  during  the  month  of  June,  by  several 
incursions  into  ar.irragansctt.  On  a  single  occasion,  he 
killed  a  great  number  of  the  enemy,  and  took  from  one  to 
two  hundred  prisoners.  To  the  everlasting  disgrace  of 
the  whites  of  this  coini)any,  they  allowed  their  Mohegau 
allies,  upon  one  occasioi;,  to  torture  to  death  a  young 
warrior  who  was  made  jirisoner.  "The  English, "  says 
Hubbard,  "at  this  time  were  not  unwilling  to  gratify  their 
humor,  lest,  by  a  denial,  they  might  disoblige  their  luiliuu 
friends — partly,  also,  that  they  might  have  an  ocular 
demonstration  of  the  savage,  barbarous  cruelty  of  the 
heathen."  This  young  warrior  had  killed,  as  he  averred, 
many  Englishmen,  and  now,  the  narrative  proceeds,  "this 
monster  is  fallen  into  the  hands  of  those  that  will  repay 
him  seven-fold." 

The  Molu'gans  cut  round  the  joints  of  his  fingers  and 
toes  sue(!essively,  and  then  "brock  them  off,  as  was  for- 
merly the  custom  to  do  with  a  slaughtered  beast."  Tlie 
victim  bore  all  unflinchingly;  replying  to  their  taunts, 
with  asseverations  that  he  "liked  the  war  well,  and  found 
it  as  sweet  as  the  Phiglishmen  do  their  sugar."  They 
compelled  him  to  dance  and  sing  in  this  condition,  till  he 
had  "wearied  himself  and  them,"  and  then  broke  his  legs. 
Sinking,  in  silence,  on  the  grt  :id,  he  .sat  till  they  iinished 
his  miseries  by  a  blow.  Meanwhile,  the  Engli.sh  stood  by, 
and,  although  the  sight  brought  tears  into  tiie  eyes  of 
some  of  them,  none  offered  to  interfere. 

Famine,  disease,  and  I'xposui'c  had,  by  this  time,  begun 
to  do  their  work  upon  the  miserable  outcasts  wlio  had  so 
long  kept  New  England  in  terror. 

A  large  body  fled  westward,  pursued  by  troops  from 
Connecticut,  and,  after  sustaining  considerable  loss,  suc- 
ceeded in  joining  the  Mohicans  of  the  Ilud.son,  with  whom 
they  united,  and  formed  thereafter  a  portion  of  that  tribe. 

The  colonial  authorities  now  oflfered  terms  of  peace  to 
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258 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


the  enemy,  promising  good  treatment  to  all  wlio  should 
surrender  and  deliver  up  their  arms,  with  the  exception 
of  notorious  offenders.  Within  a  few  weeks  from  this 
proclamation,  five  or  six  hundred  of  the  Indians  came  in 
and  submitted  to  the  English.  Some  of  their  chiefs,  and 
noted  warriors,  and  those  who  had  been  chiefly  concerned 
in  the  outrages  upon  the  settlements,  were  put  to  death ; 
the  others  had  lands  assigned  them;  were  disarmed,  and 
kept  under  tlie  surveillance  of  overseers. 

As  Church  took  so  prominent  a  ^jart  in  the  final  reduc- 
tion of  Pliilip  and  his  chief  sachems,  we  will  now  briefly 
review  his  proceedings  during  this  summer  unti'  the  death 
of  Philip  and  the .  close  of  the  war.  He  had  been  sum- 
moned to  Plymouth  in  tlie  spring,  to  assist  at  the  council 
of  war,  and,  at  tliat  time,  proffered  advice,  which,  if  ap- 
proved by  his  associates,  might  have  saved  much  Iuivdc 
and  bloodshed.  Uis  plan  was  to  "make  a  business  of  the 
war,  as  the  enemy  did;"  to  employ  large  forces;  to  eiili.'^t 
all  the  friendly  Indians  who  were  available,  and  to  pursue 
their  opponents  into  their  own  country,  and  fight  thein  in 
their  own  manner.  Not  being  able  t^  persuade  the  au- 
thorities to  his  views,  he  remained  inactive,  with  bis 
family,  at  Duxbury  and  on  Khode  Island,  until  early  iu 
June,  when  he  again  betook  himself  to  I*lymouth,  where 
he  was  gladly  welcomed  by  the  general  court,  then  iu 
session.  The  members  "told  him  they  were  glad  to  see 
him  alive,  lie  replied,  he  was  as  glad  to  see  them  alive, 
for  he  had  sccii  so  many  fires  and  smokes  towards  their 
side  of  the  coimtry,  since  he  left  them,  that  he  could 
scarce  eat  or  sleep  with  any  comfort,  for  fear  they  had  all 
been  destroyed.  For  all  traveling  was  stopped,  and  no 
news  had  passed  for  a  long  time  together." 

The  court  had  now  concluded,  according  to  Church's 
plan,  to  raise  a  largo  force  of  English  and  Indians,  and 
eagerly  accepted  the  captain's  offer  of  cooperation.    He 


vV 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


259 


was  to  return  to  Ehode  Island,  and  there  enlist  a  company 
for  the  campaign.  Eeaching  Elizabeth's  Island,  he  could 
find  no  conveyance  homeward  otlier  than  a  canoe,  manned 
by  two  Indians.  Their  course  took  them  near  Sogkonate 
(commonly  called  Seaconnet)  point,  the  wild  mass  of 
rocks  which  juts  into  the  ocean,  at  the  southern  extremity 
of  Awoshonk's  domains.  Church  saw  some  of  the  Indians 
fishing  upon  the  rocks,  and  bethought  him  that  here  might 
be  further  opportunity  of  communicating  with  his  old 
friend,  the  squaw  sachem.  Notwithstanding  her  early 
counsel  with  Church,  she,  or  her  people,  against  her  incli- 
nations, had  been  drawn  into  Pliilip's  plans,  and  the 
Sogkonates  had  taken  active  part  in  the  hostilities. 

The  canoe  was  soon  hailed  from  shore,  but  the  surf  beat 
so  heavily  against  the  rocks  that  the  reply  could  not  be 
hoard.  Two  Indians,  one  of  whom  was  George,  the  inter- 
preter, therefore  came  out  upon  a  long  point  of  sand, 
where  Church  could  land  without  danger  of  being  surprised, 
and,  on  his  approach,  they  informed  him  that  Awoshonks 
had  left  Philip,  and  would  be  glad  to  have  a  conference 
with  him.  An  appointment  was  therefore  made  for  a 
meeting,  on  the  next  day  that  the  weather  would  permit, 
at  a  well-known  rock,  upon  the  Richmond  form.  None 
were  to  be  present  except  the  queen,  her  son  Peter,  and 
Nompash,  an  Indian  known  to  Church. 

Arriving  at  Newport,  and  detailing  his  plans  to  the 
authorities,  they  pronounced  him  demented  to  think  of 
risking  himself  unprotected  among  such  a  body  of  the 
enemy.  He  replied  that  he  had  always  wished  for  an 
opportunity  to  confer  with  the  Sogkonates,  not  doubting 
but  that  he  could  secure  their  friendship,  and  that  he  was 
determined  to  prosecute  the  adventure. 

He  accordingly  crossed  over  the  next  day,  to  the  place 
appointed,  accompanied  only  by  "his  own  man,"  and  the 
Indian  who  had  paddled  him  from  Elizabeth's.    He  was 


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260 


INDIAN   RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


met  by  the  queen  and  the  other  two,  who  had  been  desig- 
nated ;  but,  upon  retiring  a  short  distance,  to  a  convenient 
spot  for  discussion,  a  crowd  of  armed  and  painted  war- 
riors sprang  up  from  amid  the  long  grass  around  them. 

Church  betrayed  no  signs  of  surprise  or  fear,  but,  having 
first  obtained  directions  from  Awoshonks  that  the  Indians 
should  lay  down  their  guns,  he  pulled  out  a  bottle  of  rum, 
and  opened  the  conference  by  proffering  her  a  dram,  ask- 
ing, "if  she  had  been  so  long  at  Weetuset  as  to  forget  to 
drink  Occap'^ches."  Having  first  swallowed  some  him- 
self, from  the  hollow  of  his  hand,  to  quiet  any  suspicions 
of  treachery  that  she  might  entertain,  he  distributed  the 
rest,  together  with  some  tobacco  that  he  had  V>ronght, 
among  those  standing  by.  He  then  answered  her  inquir- 
ies as  to  the  reasons  why  he  had  absented  himself  so  long, 
using  all  his  powers  of  persuasion  to  revive  her  old  friend- 
ship for  the  English ;  promising  favor  and  protection  from 
the  government,  if  she  would  enlist  her  forces  against 
Philip ;  and  by  his  bold  and  frank  demeanor,  disarming 
the  suspicions  and  softening  the  surliness  of  the  warriors. 

At  one  time,  as  related  by  Church,  "there  arose  a  mighty 
murmur,  confused  ncise  and  talk  among  the  fierce-looking 
creatures;  and,  all  rising  up  in  a  hubbub,  a  great  surly- 
looking  fellow  took  up  his  tomhog,  or  wooden  cutlass,  to 
kill  Mr.  Church,  but  some  others  prevented  him." 

This  man  had  lost  a  brother  in  the  fight  at  Puukatese, 
but  Church  explained  how,  with  only  a  handful  of  men, 
he  had  been  suddenly  set  upon,  and  how  his  intentions 
were,  even  then,  friendly  to  the  Sogkonates. 

His  counsels  finally  prevailed,  and  it  was  agreed  that 
an  oft'er  of  services  should  be  made  at  Plymouth,  in  be- 
half of  the  tribe;  five  men  being  chosen  to  accompany 
Church  on  the  embassy. 

Having  returned  to  Rhode  Island,  and,  with  much  dif- 
ficulty, procured  a  vessel.  Captain  Church  set  sail  for  Sog- 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


261 


konatc,  whence  tlie  Indians  espied  liiin,  and  stood  waiting 
upon  the  rocks  with  an  old  canoe,  ready  to  come  on  board. 
The  sea  ran  so  high  that  no  one  but  Peter  Awoshonks  was 
able  to  reach  the  vessel;  and  when,  after  much  danger  and 
trouble,  he  was  taken  in,  a  strong  head  wind  prevented 
the  prosecution  of  the  voyage,  and  all  returned  to  New- 
port, making  the  circuit  of  Khode  Island. 

Church,  after  this  delay— the  arrival  of  the  army  at 
Pocasset  being  shortly  expected — was  unwilling  to  leave 
the  Island,  and  accordingly  sent  Peter  back  to  Sogkonate, 
Avith  directions  to  take  the  selected  number  of  his  com- 
panions, and  proceed  across  the  country  to  Plymouth,  with 
letters  for  the  governor. 

The  Plymouth  forces  reached  Pocasset,  under  command 
of  ^Injor  Bradford,  and,  having  been  joined,  by  Church, 
marched  to  Punkatese.  Awoshonks  and  most  of  her  war- 
riors, having  been  notified  to  attend,  came  to  this  place, 
and  proffered  their  services ;  but,  to  their  great  grief  and 
disappointment,  v/ere  ordered  to  repair  to  Sandwich,  on 
the  coast  to  the  eastward,  and  await  further  directions 
from  the  government  at  Plymouth.  Church  advised  them 
to  comply  quietly,  and  promised  to  join  them,  himself 
within  a  week,  with  a  commission  to  employ  them,  if  he 
could  obtain  it. 

During  the  ensuing  week,  according  to  the  opinion  of 
some,  an  opportunity  was  lost  of  surprising  and  destroy- 
ing nearly  the  whole  of  Philip's  remaining  force,  who  had 
gone  to  Wepoiset,  in  search  of  clams;  provisions  being 
very  scarce  with  them. 

Captain  Church,  with  only  one  companion,  rode  from 
Rchoboth  to  Plymouth,  starting  at  sunset,  and  reaching 
the  town  early  in  the  morning.  He  there  saw  the  gov- 
ernor, who  had  received  the  messengers  from  Sogkonate 
with  favor,  and  who  readily  promised  him  the  desired 
commission,  and  ratified  his  agreement  with  Awoshonks. 


5  >.••  •  i  il«l 


ij;v   ^:^];r!',,,  i^^'.4« 


•,t.,n; 


'■■m 


262 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


,  !>';''■'  ■' 


t 


Not  finding  tlie  Indians  at  Sandwich,  Captain  Church, 
with  a  few  companions,  proceeded  along  the  coast,  and 
finally  came  upon  the  whole  tribe,  scattered  over  the  level 
sund-beach,  engaged  in  various  occupations  and  diver- 
sions-— "A  vast  company  of  Indians,  of  all  ages  and  sexes, 
some  on  horse-back  running  races,  some  at  foot-ball,  some 
catching  eels  and  flat-fish,  some  clamming,  &c." 

He  was  received  by  Awoshonks  and  her  chiefs,  and 
royally  entertained.  When  night  came  on,  an  immense 
heap  of  dry  pine  branches  and  other  fuel  was  set  on  lire, 
and  all  the  Indians,  gathering  round  it,  commenced  those 
dances  and  ceremonies  deemed  by  them  so  essential  in 
cementing  a  league,  or  in  entering  upon  any  important 
adventure. 

A  stout  chief  would  step  within  the  circle,  armed  with 
spear  and  hatchet,  and  appear  to  fight  the  fire,  with  every 
gesture  and  expression  of  energy  and  fury,  naming  suc- 
cessively the  several  hostile  tribes;  "and,  at  tlie  naming  of 
every  particular  tribe  of  Indians,  he  Avould  draw  out  and 
fight  a  new  fire-brand,  and  at  finishing  his  fight  with  eauli 
particular  fire-brand,  would  bow  to  him  and  thank  him." 
He  would  then  retire,  and  another  would  repeat  tlie  same 
operation,  "with  more  fury,  if  possible,  than  the  fii\st." 

Awoshonks  and  the  chiefs  told  Church  that  hereby  they 
were  his  sworn  soldiers,  and,  one  and  all,  at  his  service. 
lie  therefore  selected  a  number  of  them,  and  took  them  to 
Plymouth  the  next  day,  where  he  was  regularly  com  mis- 
sioned, by  Governor  Winslow,  to  raise  volunteers,  both 
English  and  Indian ;  to  fight  the  enemy  at  his  discretion ; 
and  to  make  treaty  and  coni])osition  with  any,  as  he  should 
see  reason,  "provided  they  be  not  murderous  rogues,  or 
such  as  have  been  principal  actors  in  those  villanies."  The 
commission  was  given,  under  the  public  seal,  the  2-Itli  day 
of  July,  1676. 

Being  now  furnished  with  a  suflicient  force,  and  being 


¥'■■  .. 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDJANS. 


263 


at  liberty  to  carry  out  his  own  plans,  Church  commenced 
a  vigorous  and  cflbctive  campaign.  Spreading  through 
the  forest  with  his  men,  keeping  himself  continually  in- 
formed by  scouts  of  the  position  and  number  of  the  ene- 
my, and  following  up  his  advantages  with  unwearied 
energy,  he  reduced  his  opponents  to  the  greatest  straits. 
The  army,  under  Bradford,  remained  at  Taunton  and  vi- 
cinity, cutting  oirriiilip's  return  from  the  eastward,  while 
Church  and  liis  corj)S  scoured  the  woods,  surprising  and 
killing,  or  taking  captive  large  numbers  of  hostile  Indians. 

On  one  occasion,  he  fell  in  with  Little  Eyes,  the  Sog- 
konate  who  attempted  to  make  way  with  him  at  the  fu'st 
interview  with  Awoslionks,  and  wlio  had  separated  fi'om 
the  rest  of  the  tribe  with  a  few  comj)anions.  His  Indian 
allies  urged  Church  to  take  this  opportunity  for  revenging 
himself,  but  he  refused,  and  showed  the  unfriendly  chief 
quarter  and  protectii)n. 

Philip  and  his  party,  chiefly  Narragansctts,  anxious  to 
effect  a  retreat  to  the  Narragansett  country,  came  to  the 
banks  of  Taunton  river,  and  felled  a  large  tree  over  the 
stream  for  the  purpose  of  crossing.  At  this  spot.  Church 
with  his  company  and  a  detachment  from  Bridgcwater, 
attacked  him,  on  the  1st  of  August.  As  the  English 
secretly  approached  the  fallen  tree,  a  single  warrior  was 
seen  seated  upon  the  stump  across  the  river,  and  as  Church 
was  taking  aim  at  him,  one  of  his  Indian  followers  called 
to  him  not  to  fire,  thinking  that  it  was  a  man  of  their  own 
party.  At  this  moment  the  Indian  sprang  from  the  stump, 
and  elfectcd  his  escape  down  the  river-bank,  but  as  he 
turned  his  face,  he  was  distinctly  recognized  to  be  Philip 
himself 

The  whole  body  of  the  enemy  then  scattered  and  fled 
through,  the  woods,  but  succeeded  in  effecting  a  passage 
of  the  river  at  a  ford,  some  distance  beyond;  hotly  pur- 
sued by  the  English.     Many  women  and  children  were 


■1i.'i- 


264 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


\'':-"W^r 


:■ .     ^r,.^ 


captured ;  among  the  rest,  Pliilij)'s  wife,  Wootonekanuske, 
and  his  son,  a  hid  only  nine  years  of  age.  The  Sogkon- 
ates,  following  closely  upon  the  fugitives,  killed  several, 
ard  made  thirteen  prisoners. 

As  the  flight  was  eontinued,  the  women  and  cliildron 
became  wearied,  and,  being  unable  to  keep  pace  with  the 
company,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  pursuers.  They  were 
ordered  to  follow  the  trail,  aiid  were  assured  that,  if 
submissive  and  obedient,  they  should  be  the  more  favor- 
ably treated. 

Philip,  and  his  band,  being  suddenly  surprised,  while 
they  were  busily  engaged  in  preparing  breakfa.st,  lied  into 
a  swamp,  leaving  "  their  kettles  boiling,  and  meat  roasting 
upon  their  wooden  sj)its."  Here  they  were  hemmed  in, 
and,  after  some  hard  lighting,  no  less  than  one  hundred 
and  seventy-three,  including  those  who  had  followed  the 
party,  as  directed,  were  taken  prisoners  or  killed.  A 
large  divisi(jn  of  these  were  so  surprised  and  panic-struck 
by  the  number  and  determination  of  the  pursuers,  that 
they  "stood  still  and  let  the  English  come  and  take  the 
guns  out  of  their  hands,  when  they  were  both  charged  and 
cocked."    Philip,  and  .some  of  his  princi])al  chiefs,  escaped. 

The  prisoners,  having  been  well  supplied  with  food, 
Avere  confined  in  the  pound,  at  Bridgewater,  and  passed 
the  night  in  merriment,  expressing  little  despondency  or 
apprehension.  They  rei)orted  Philip's  condition  and  frame 
of  mind  as  being  miserable  in  the  extreme.  His  wife  and 
son  made  prisoners;  his  allies  overpowered,  or  treacher- 
ous; reverses  coming  thick  upon  him;  and  his  force 
dwindling  to  a  handful  of  warriors,  nothing  but  destruction 
seemed  to  await  him. 

On  the  6tli  of  August,  Weetamore,  queen  of  Pocasset, 
and  widow  of  Alexander,  Pliilip's  eldest  brother,  who 
throughout  the  war  had  been  a  most  valuable  and  laithful 
coadjutor  to  her  brother-in-law,  perished  in  attempting  to 


!1 


■^■:-^.. 


,i/    iiH 


NEW  ENGLAND   INDIANS. 


265 


escape  over  the  Tehticut  river,  into  her  own  country,  upon 
a  raft.  She  hud  been  sur])rise(l,  with  twenty-six  of  her 
subjects,  who  were  all  taken  prisoners.  The  dead  body 
of  the  poor  qneen  was  found  stur/c  naked,  near  the  river 
bank,  wliere  she  had  probably  crouched  half  drowned,  and 
died  from  exposure  and  famine.  Her  head  was  cut  oif  by 
those  who  discovered  her  and  fixed  upon  a  pole  at  Taun- 
ton, where  it  was  recognized  by  some  of  her  loving 
subjects  kept  there  in  caj)tivity.  Their  burst  of  unre- 
strainable  grief  at  the  sight,  is  characterized  by  Mather,  as 
"a  most  horrid  and  diabolical  lamentation." 

Church  returned  to  Plymouth,  where  he  received  the 
thanks  and  gratulations  of  the  authorities,  but  was  allowed 
little  rest,  as  some  of  the  enemy,  under  the  great  sachem 
Totoson,  were  lurking  around  Dartmouth,  and  his  aid  Avas 
required  to  dislodge  them.  The  ex})cdition  was  successful, 
but  1  otoson,  with  an  old  squaw  and  his  little  son,  escaped. 
The  sipiaw  afterwards  came  to  Sandwich,  and  reported  the 
chief's  death,  saying  that,  "reflecting  upon  the  miserable 
condition  he  had  brought  himself  into,  his  heart  became  a 
stone  within  him,  and  he  died."  She  said  that  she  had 
covered  his  body  with  a  few  leaves  and  brush. 

Worn  out  by  hard  service,  hard  ftxre,  and  exjiosure, 
Captain  Church  now  sought  to  recruit  his  strength  by  rest; 
but,  being  urged  by  the  government  to  pursue  Philip  to 
the  death,  and  receiving  promises  of  satisfaction  for  former 
neglect,  he  marched  to  Pocasset  with  a  company  of  volun- 
teers, and  thence  crossed  over  to  Rhode  Island. 

He  there  visited  his  wife,  whom  he  had  left  at  a  !Mrs. 
Sandford's,  and  who  fainted  with  surprise  and  joy  at 
meetiiig  him  alive;  but  hardly  had  the  first  greetings 
been  exchanged,  when  tidings  came  post  that  Philip  was 
to  be  found  at  his  old  quarters  in  Mount  Hope  neck.  The 
horses  upon  which  Church  and  his  companions  had  just 
arrived  stood  at  the  door;  and,  telling  Mrs.  Church  that 


'    I..' 


iili 


■•^■i■■■r■^:^f]'■':M 


i  ,    1. 

«        ' 

9, 

1 

i\ 


'•;i'!; 


•■:     '■,'■■  ''>  ^\i:* 

'■■:.,■: .  i*vi^»  V 


266 


INDIAN   KACES  OF  AMERICA. 


hi' 


m 

1  !    .,  I 


"she  must  content  lioraclf  witli  a,  short  visit  when  such 
gjinio  was  iiliead,"  they  till  niuunted  and  si)nrred  oil". 

They  learned  from  the  deserter  who  ha<l  hron^iit  tlio 
intelligence,  that  Philip  was  encamped  npon  a  spot  ol' dry 
hind  in  a  swamp  hard  by  the  mount;  and  Chureli  hoiiii.^ 
well  aecpuiinted  with  the  locality,  lost  no  time  in  takiii<,' 
advanta;^'e  of  his  information,  lie  crossed  the  ferry  with 
his  men,  and  a])]>roached  the  spot  during  the  night. 
Having  distributed  a  portion  of  the  force  in  such  a  maimer 
as  to  command  all  the  places  where  the  enemy  would  be 
likely  to  attempt  escape,  another  detachment,  under  Ca])tain 
Golding,  ])roceeded  to  "beat  up  Philip's  head-quarters;" 
with  directions  to  make  all  the  noise  jiossible,  while  pur- 
suing the  fugitives,  that  they  might  be  known  by  those 
who  lay  in  ambush. 

The  Indians,  startled  by  the  first  fire,  rushed  into  the 
swamp,  with  Phili])  at  their  head.  Half  clothed,  and 
flinging  his  "})etunk"  and  powder-horn  behind  him,  the 
doomed  chief  came,  at  full  speed,  fully  within  range  of  tlic 
guns  of  an  Englishman  and  an  Indian,  who  lay  concealed 
at  one  of  the  points  of  ambuscade. 

The  white  man's  gun  sna])pcd,  but  the  fire  of  his  com- 
panion was  fatal.  Philip  fell  upon  his  face  in  the  mire, 
shot  through  the  heart.  This  event  took  i)laee  eai'ly  in 
m  the  morning  of  Saturday,  the  12tli  of  August,  1670. 

Thus  the  main  object  of  the  camj)aign  was  accomplished; 
but  most  of  the  hostile  party  managed  to  escai)e.  Among 
them  was  the  old  chief,  Annawon,  a  great  captain  under 
Philip,  and  Massasoit,  his  father.  lit  "seemed  to  be  a 
great  surly  old  fellow,"  hallooing,  wiih  a  loud  voice, 
"lootash — lootash!"  Peter,  Church's  man,  said  that  ho 
was  calling  on  his  men  to  figlit  bravely,  and  hold  their 
ground. 

Several  of  Church's  Indians  dragged  the  body  of  poor 
Philip  out  of  the  mire,  "  and  a  doleful,  great,  naked  beast 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


287 


he  looked."  By  tlic  direction  of  the  ca])taiii,  who  averred 
that,  Imving  "caused  many  an  Enj^lislinian's  body  to  bo 
unbiiried  and  to  rot  above  ground,  not  one  of  bis  bomvs 
should  be  buried,"  one  of  the  Indians  beheaded  and  ciuar- 
terod  the  body  of  the  fallen  suehcm,  an  was  the  custom 
towards  traitors.  The  old  executioner,  who  was  ajipointod 
to  this  ofhcc,  first  made  a  short  speech,  which,  but  that  it 
was  rather  more  coarsely  expressed,  might  remind  one  of 
the  exultation  of  the  heroes  of  Homer  over  a  concjucred  foe. 
However  far  removed  from  that  absurd  and  morbid 
sensibility  which  i)erceives  greater  tokens  of  i'  pruvity  in 
an  indignity  oiTcred  to  a  senseless  carcass  than  in  acts  of 
cruelty  and  injustice  towards  the  living,  we  do  not  care  to 
defend  this  act  of  Church.  One  of  Philip's  hands,  which 
had  been  formerly  marred  by  the  bursting  of  a  pistol,  was 
given  to  Alderman,  the  Indian  who  shot  him.  The  ex- 
hibition of  it  }>roved  a  source  of  no  small  jirofit.  The  head 
was  long  exposed  at  Plymouth,  and  the  devout  Mather 
exults  in  having,  with  his  own  hand,  dis})laced  the  jaw 
from  the  scull  of  "that  blasphemous  leviathan." 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

PURSUIT  OF  ANNAWON  AND  HIS  PARTY — DARING  PROCEDURE  OP 

CAPTAIN  CHURCH — END  OF  THE  WAR,  AND  FINAL  DISPOSAL 

OF  PRISONERS — SUMMARY  OF  THE  COLONIAL  LOSSES. 

After  the  death  of  Philip,  the  company  returned  to 
Plymouth,  and  received,  as  premium  for  their  services, 
thirty  shillings  for  each  Indian  killed  or  taken. 

Toward  the  cud  of  August,  Church  was  again  called 
from  Plymouth  to  go  in  pursuit  of  Annawon,  who,  with 
the  feeble  remains  of  his  force,  was  scouring  the  count r\' 


(      r  • 


'    ,t,  .'  - 


ill'  ^m 

•     ^  r.»   i  ^    ■  I      M.Ik*      '.     ^ 


ii 


^. 


'.i 


I 


268 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMKHICA. 


around  Reliobotli  and  Swaiiscy.  Ho  accorditif^ly  took  a 
fi'W  faitliful  soldiers,  with  liis  bravo  mid  tried  licutoiianl 
Jabe/,  Ilowlaiid,  luid  liasteiied  tliroii^di  the  woods  to  I'o- 
casset.  IIo  intended  passing'  the  Sabbatli  on  Uliodc  Ishuid. 
but  lioarinj^  that  Indians  had  been  seen  crossing  from 
Prudcnec  Ishind  to  Pojipasciuasli  neck,  he  hastened  at 
onee  in  quest  of  tlieni.  As  they  were  jiassinjr  tlie  river 
in  canoes,  so  lieavy  a  gale  sprung  up  that,  after  tlu;  captain 
and  fd'teen  or  sixteen  Indians  were  over,  the  boats  could 
no  longer  venture.  Without  waitirg  foi'  their  Knglish 
companions,  this  little  company  marched  round  through 
the  northern  ])art  of  the  present  town  of  Bristol,  and 
sju'cading  ai'ross  the  narrow  jiortion  of  tlic  neck,  scut 
scouts  to  ascertain  the  position  of  the  enemy.  They  there 
passed  "a  very  solitary,  hungry  night,"  having  no  j)rovi- 
sions.  Karly  in  the  morning,  Nathaniel,  an  Indian  of  the 
scouting  parly,  ai)pcarcd,  and  told  how  he,  Avith  his  com- 
])ani()n,  luul  taken  ten  prisoners,  by  lying  concealecl,  and 
attracting  the  enemies'  attention  by  howling  like  a  wolf. 
One  after  another,  they  would  run  to.  see  what  caused  the 
noise,  and  Natluiniel,  "howling  lower  and  lower,  drew 
them  in  between  tho.se  who  hiy  in  wait."  They  afterwards 
.secured  the  wives  and  children  of  these  cajitivcs,  all  of 
whom  said  that  Annawon  never  "  roo.stcd  twice  in  a  jilaee," 
but  continually  shifted  liis  quarters.  Tlu-y  represented 
Annawon  as  the  bravest  and  mo.st  .subtle  of  all  Philip's 
warriors,  and  said  that  the  men  who  still  adhered  to  him 
were  valiant  and  resolute. 

An  old  Indian,  accompanied  by  a  young  squaw,  were 
next  taken,  both  of  whom  had  come  direct  from  tiie  greiit 
cliief's  encampment,  which  was  in  Squannaconk  swamp, 
in  the  south-easterly  part  of  Rehoboth.  The  old  man,  in 
consideration  that  his  life  was  spared,  agreed  to  pilot 
Church  to  the  spot,  but  begged  that  he  might  not  be  com- 
pelled "to  fight  against  Captain  Annawon,  his  old  friend." 


NEW  ENGLAND   INDIANS. 


209 


It  was  a  bold  act,  indeed,  on  tlie  part  of  Clinrcli,  to  under- 
tiikc  the  C!H)turc  of  such  u  warrior,  svith  so  small  a  force; 
lor,  having  been  obliged  to  send  some  back  with  the 
jirisoners,  only  half  a  dozen  Tn(Uans  now  accompanied 
liiin.  lie  was  not  a  man  to  let  slij)  an  opportunity,  and 
started  at  once  for  tlio  camp,  having  much  ailo  to  keep 
pace  with  the  hard}  old  Indian  who  led  the  way. 

Annawon's  "camp  or  kennelling  place,"  was  pitched 
in  a  recess  in  a  ledge  of  precipitous  rocks,  which  Aood 
upon  a  rising  ground  in  the  swamp,  and  the  only  way  to 
approach  it  unj)ereeiveil  was  by  elambering  down  tlie  clilf. 
It  w.'is  night  when  Chureh  arrived  there;  .stopping  the 
guide  with  his  hand,  he  crawled  to  the  edge  of  the  rock, 
and  looked  down  upon  the  scene  beh)W.  Annawon's  hut 
consisted  of  a  tree  felled  again.st  the  wall  of  rock,  with 
birch  b\ishes  piled  against  it.  Fires  were  lit  without,  over 
which  meat  was  roasting  ami  kettles  were  boiling,  and  the 
light  revealed  several  companies  of  the  enemy.  Their 
arms  were  stacked  together,  and  covered  with  a  mat,  and 
in  close  ])roximity  to  tliem  lay  old  Annawon  and  his  son. 
An  old  squaw  was  pounding  corn  in  a  mortar,  and,  as  the 
noise  of  her  blows  continued.  Church,  {)receded  by  the 
guide  and  his  daughter,  and  followed  by  his  Indian  idlies, 
lot  himself  down  by  the  bushes  and  twigs  which  grew  in 
the  crevices  of  the  rock.  AVith  his  hatchet  in  his  hand, 
^0  stepped  over  the  younger  Annawon,  who  drew  himself 
into  a  heap  with  his  blanket  over  his  head,  ai:-  ■  reached 
the  guns.  The  old  chief  sat  up,  crying  out  "  Ilowoh !"  but, 
seeing  that  he  was  taken,  lay  down  again  in  silence.  The 
rest  of  the  company  made  no  resistance,  supposing  that 
the  English  Avere  upon  them  in  force.  Church's  Indians, 
going  among  them,  enlarged  upon  his  benevolence  and 
kindness,  and  advised  them  to  submit  quietly,  which  they 
did,  delivering  up  all  their  arms. 

Annawon  ordered  his  women  to  get  supper  for  Ca])tain 


'  I 'S 


<  tl.-. 


(I  ,' 


'''■■f^ 


•"■".J  <'i 


if  Jih'' «^;i  I'^^'^i  M 


»■    ''■   .11 1!  'i5*wii 

.9.       '.L    5  ,     >i:',«1 


270 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


Cliurcli  and  liis  men,  and  they  all  supped  togetlier  in  liar- 
inony.  The  Captain,  wearied  out  by  long  ■\vatcliing  uiid 
labor,  now  tried  to  get  a  little  sleep,  but  was  unable  to 
compose  himself.  Looking  round  he  saw  the  whole  party, 
friends  and  foes,  sleeping  soundly,  with  the  exception  of 
Annawou;  and  there  lay  the  two  rival  leaders,  looking  at 
each  otlicr  for  near  an  hour. 

Annawon  then  got  up  and  retired  a  short  distance,  and, 
as  he  did  not  immediately  return,  Church  suspected  that 
he  might  have  secured  a  gun,  with  intent  to  dispatch  him, 
and  therefore  crept  close  to  young  Annawon,  as  sccui'itv. 
The  old  man  soon  reappeared,  bringing  with  him  Philip's 
regalia,  and,  kneeling  down  before  Church,  to  his  great 
surpi'ise,  addressed  him  in  English:  "Great  captain,  you 
have  killed  Philip  and  conquered  his  country ;  for  I  believe 
that  r  and  my  company  arc  the  last  that  war  against  the  iOng- 
lish,  so  suppose  the  war  is  ended  l)y  your  means,  and  there- 
fore these  things  belong  to  you."  lie  then  han(le(^  iiiin 
two  broad  belts  elaborately  worked  in  wamjunn,  one  of 
whi(;h  reached  from  the  shoulders  nearly  to  the  ground, 
"edged with  redhair,from  the Mahog's country ;"  two  luirns 
of  powder,  and  a  red  cloth  blanket.  lie  said  tliat  Philip 
used  to  ornament  himself  with  these  upon  great  occasions. 

All  night  long  the  two  captains  continued  their  con- 
verse, and  Annawon  detailed  his  advi'ntures,  and  "gave 
an  account  of  what  mighty  success  he  had  formerly,  in 
wars  against  many  nations  of  Indians,  when  he  served 
Asuincquin  (Massasoit),  Philip's  father." 

The  next  day  the  party  proceeded  to  Taunton,  and 
Chnrch,  with  Annawon  in  his  company,  went  to  Phode 
Island,  and  so  on  to  Plymouth.  There,  to  his  great  sor- 
row, the  authorities  refused  to  spare  the  old  chief,  but  put 
him  to  death.  At  the  same  time  they  executed  Tispaquin, 
the  last  of  Philip's  great  sachems,  who  had  surrendered 
himself  upon  promise  of  mercy. 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


271 


The  war  was  now  at  an  end,  with  the  exception  of  a 
few  "liuutiiig  excursions,"  after  some  stragglers  of  riiihp's 
men  who  yet  lurked  in  the  woods.  Such  of  the  prisoners, 
now  in  the  hands  of  the  English,  as  had  been  active  in 
hostilities,  were  put  to  death:  the  rest  were  sold  in  slavery 
in  the  colonies,  or  sent  to  toil  in  the  West  Indies.  It  wa.s 
much  discussed  whether  the  poor  boy  who  was  so  eul])a- 
ble  as  to  be  the  son  of  Philip,  should  die.  Tiie  clergymen 
seemed  inclined  to  the  belief  that  such  should  be  his  f;ite; 
Increase  Mather  cited  the  ease  of  Iladad,  saying  that, 
"had  not  others  fled  away  with  him,  I  am  apt  to  think 
that  David  would  have  taken  a  course  that  Iladad  should 
never  have  proved  a  scourge  to  the  next  generation."  lie 
was  finally  sent  a  slave  to  Bermuda. 

Baylies  thus  sums  up  the  disasters  of  the  eventful  pei-iod 
of  Pliilip's  hostilities:  ^^In  this  war,  which  lasted  but  lit- 
tle more  than  a  year  and  a  half,  six  hundred  Knglishmen 
were  killed.  Thirteen  towns  in  ^[assachusetts,  Plymouth, 
and  llhode  Island,  were  tiestroyed,  and  many  others  greatly 
injured.  Almost  every  family  had  lost  a  relative.  Six 
hundred  dwelling-houses  had  been  burned.  A  vast  amount, 
in  goods  and  cattle,  had  been  destroyed,  and  a  vast  debt 
created.  But  the  result  of  the  contest  was  decisive;  the 
enemy  was  extinct;  the  fiu'tile  wilderness  was  opened,  and 
the  rapid  extension  of  settlements  evinced  the  growing 
prosperity  of  New  England." 


'■^ 

p 

'  •    ^t: 

llfk 

■'I 

'! 

.!'■     '^ 

1     i 

(: 

'i'\ 

'    '■? 

.:    V 

■* 

* 

■.  ' 

■','■ 

^'^!;^' 

■  '■«!' 

,'" 

■•■ 

■J 

'r 
»  , 

if  I; 

■f!:"i 


^ixni 


1 


:l 


•  -ji    •': 


?       ,'      li' 


'■'■*i.'l- 


'AM 


'\l 


■>ji 


%»^it 


f'i'fcif 


i\  J 


!'! 

It. 

''Mm 


.;.;-:•■•.. 


272 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


|/.;v>>i.,i,i.': 


■n 


THE    EASTERN    INDIANS — THEIR     FRIENDLY    DISPOSITION — SEIZURE 

OF  THOSE  IMPLICATED  IN  PHILIp's    CONSPIRACY FRENCH  AND 

INDIAN  WAR    OF    1089 — ATTACK    ON    COCHECO — MURDER 

OF    MAJOR    WALDRON WAR     OF    1702 — CHURCH's 

LAST    CAMPAIGN — WAR     OF     1722 — CAPTAIN 
•  JOHN  LOVEWELL. 

The  services  of  Captain  Benjamin  Church,  in  the  early 
Indian  campaigns,  did  not  end  with  the  death  of  Phihp 
and  the  reduction  of  the  hostile  tribes  united  by  that  chief 
in  enmity  against  the  colonists.  In  the  war  which  after- 
wards broke  out  with  the  Indians  of  New  Ilamiishire 
and  Maine,  the  old  soldier  was  again  called  upon  to  take 
the  Held. 

Our  accounts  of  the  early  history  of  these  Eastern  tribes 
are  not  very  voluminous  or  connected.  Some  description 
is  given,  in  Ca])taiu  John  Smith's  narrative,  of  the  gov- 
ernment and  division  of  the  nations  and  tribes  on  the  coast ; 
and,  in  subsequent  times,  tales  of  noted  sagamores  and  war- 
riors, with  detached  incidents  of  adventure,  are  not  want- 
ing in  interest. 

Tlie  first  English  settlers  in  Maine  and  New  Hampshire 
had  little  to  complain  of  in  the  treatment  they  received 
from  the  aboriginal  inhabitants:  according  to  Ilul^bard, 
'•Ever  since  the  first  settling  of  any  English  plantation 
in  those  parts  about  Kenncbeck,  for  the  space  of  about 
fifty  years,  the  Indian?  ^ways  carried  it  fair,  and  lield 
good  correspondence  witn  the  English,  until  the  news  came 
of  Philip's  rebellion  and  rising  against  tlie  inhabitants  of 
riiniouth  colony  in  the  end  of  June,  1(575;  after  which 
time  it  was  apprehended  by  such  as  had  the  examination 
of  the  Indians  about  Kenncbeck,  that  there  was  a  general 
surmise  amongst  them  that  they  should  be  re(p.iired  to 


t 


f 

( ') 

'*r     ' 

i 

«*,i 

i 

1 

1-1 

/ 

i 

^f'^ 

.  "■'ii' 

fc 

--I*! 

>,^f 

>i  . 

" 

'» * 

i   . 

;r*  -f 

^  > 

*  ,  * 

'If* 

,  1 1 

'V' 

* , ' 

T    7! 

tf      1 

I  \i'i.   1ii;n.i.\mi\   Cm  Kill. 


'-;'  m3. 


NEW  ENGLAND   INDIANS. 


273 


assist  the  said  Philip,  altliough  they  would  not  own  that 
they  were  at  all  engaged  in  the  quarrel." 

When  Philip's  forees  were  destroyed  or  dispersed,  many 
of  them  took  refuge  at  the  East,  and  the  search  for  and 
seizure  of  these  served  to  arouse  and  keep  alive  hostile 
feelings  which  might  otherwise  have  slumbered.  By  the 
contrivance  of  Major  Waldron,  a  noted  character  among 
the  first  settlers  at  Cocheco  (afterwards  Dover),  in  New 
Hampshire,  some  four  hundred  Indians,  of  various  tribes, 
were  decoyed  into  the  power  of  the  colonial  troo})s  by 
the  pretence  of  a  sham-fight  exhibition.  They  were  then 
examined,  and  all  who  were  adjudged  to  have  been  con- 
nected with  the  war,  to  the  number  of  over  two  hundred, 
were  sent  to  Boston,  where  eight  or  ten  of  theui  were 
hanged,  and  the  rest  were  sold  as  slaves. 

Many  scenes  of  depredation  and  bloodshed  are  described 
by  historians  of  those  early  times  previous  to  the  regular 
campaigns  of  1689,  and  the  years  ensuing,  against  the 
French  and  Indians.  During  the  war  of  1G75-6,  connected 
with  Philip's  conspiracy,  the  most  inijiortant  alfairs  were 
the  burning,  by  tlie  Indians,  of  the  towns  of  Casco  and 
Saco.  Under  the  administration  of  .SirKdniund  Andross, 
the  conflicting  claims  to  territory  in  Maine,  between  the 
Baron  of  St.  Castine  and  English  proprietors,  brought 
about  a  war  in  which  the  neighboring  Indian  tribes  were 
involved.  With  their  usual  su(;cess,  the  French  excited 
the  eastern  Indians  to  espouse  their  cause,  and  a  series  of 
depredations  upon  the  English  colonists  ensued. 

At  Cocheco  (Dover),  Major  Waldron  was  still  in  author- 
ity, with  a  e(msiderable  force  imder  his  command,  (H'cu- 
]ying  livQ  fortified  buildings.  In  the  summer  oi'  it)8!),  a 
]tarty  of  Indians  ])lanned  an  attack  upon  this  jiost,  as  well 
to  strike  a  signal  blow  in  behalf  of  their  wliitc  allies,  as 
to  revenge  the  former  wrong  done  to  their  friends  by  Wal- 
dron. The  English  considered  themselves  perfectly  sccurt!, 
18 


:  V    1^     if 


^'•'•4'.^;fi 


'■■•'i 


' ".  41 


'  '  L 


<U 


,;("! 


.re- 


'  :i 


h  1,  H  nil    ■  ■,)-..;i; ■■■,«; 


274 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


.>V,.N 


7;^r .  •  ., 


and  kept  no  wjvtch — a  circumstance  whicli  had  been  ob- 
served by  the  enemy.  On  the  27th  of  June,  two  squaws 
obtained  leave  to  sleep  in  each  of  the  garrisoned  houses. 
During  the  night  they  rose  quietly,  unbarred  the  doors, 
and,  by  api)t)inted  signals,  announced  to  the  warriors  lurk- 
ing without  that  the  time  was  proj)itious  for  an  attack. 

The  English  were  completely  overpowered,  lifty-two 
were  killed  or  carried  away  captive;  among  the  former 
was  Major  Waldron.  The  old  warrior  (he  was  eighty 
years  of  age)  defended  him.self  with  astonishing  strength 
and  courage,  but  was  finally  struck  down  from  behind. 
Bruised  and  mangled,  he  was  placed  in  a  chair  upon  a 
table,  and  the  savnges,  gathering  round,  glutted  their  long- 
cherished  vengeance  by  cutting  and  torturing  the  helpless 
ca2)tive.  He  was  in  bad  odor  with  the  Indians  for  haviiiir, 
as  they  alledged,  defrauded  them  in  former  ti'ading  trans- 
actions. It  was  reported  among  them  that  he  used  to 
"count  his  fist  as  weighing  a  pound,  also  that  his  accounts 
were  not  crossed  o\it  according  to  agreement."  Placed  as 
above  mentioned,  upon  a  table,  some  of  them  "in  turns 
gashed  his  naked  breast,  saying,  'I  cross  out  my  account.' 
Then  cutting  a  joint  from  his  finger,  would  .say,  'Will 
your  \  i  weigh  a  pound  now?'" — {Drake'' s  edition  oj 
ChitrcJi's  Indian  ll'o'v.)  They  continued  these  cruelties 
until  he  fainted  from  loss  of  blood,  when  they  dispatchcil 
him.  It  is  said,  by  the  above  author,  that  one  of  tlio 
s(juaws,  to  whom  was  assigned  the  duty  of  betraying  Wal- 
(Iron's  garri.son,  felt  sonic  compunction  at  the  act  of  treai'li- 
ei\y,  and  endeavored,  ineffectually,  to  warn  the  command- 
ant by  crooning  the  following  verse: 

"Oh,  Jh.jor  Waldo, 
Vou  giv;it  siiiruiiiore, 
()  wliat  will  you  do, 
Indiiiiis  iit  your  door!" 

In  September  of  this  year  (1089)  Captain  (now  styled 


po.st  at 
;       G\um\ 
was  airai 
little  resl 
English 
the  faniil 
magus, 
dered  b^ 
left  to  d'i 
CIrnrch 
merly  juj 

a  warniij 

I' 

j   against 

ij   fugitives 

shoidd  c| 

sacre  of 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


275 


>rn.jor)  Church  was  commissioned  by  the  authorities  of  the 
United  Colonies  to  prosecute  the  war  in  Maine,  and  he 
sailed  accordingly  with  Lis  fonies  (or  Ciusco  Bay.  He  had 
Avitli  him  two  hundred  and  fifty  volunteers,  Knglish  and 
friendly  Indians,  and  two  companies  from  Massachusetts. 
His  arrival  was  seasonable,  as  a  large  party  of  Indians 
and  French  was  ascertained  to  be  in  the  vicinity,  intend- 
ing to  destroy  the  place.  Some  smart  skirmishing  took 
place  upon  the  succeeding  day,  but  the  enemy  linally 
drew  off. 

When  afterwards  ordered  home  with  his  troops,  Church 
l)Ostirred  himself  to  bring  about  some  action  on  the  part 
of  the  government  for  the  more  eifcctual  protection  of  the 
luifortunate  inhabitants  of  Casco  (the  country  in  the  vi(!iu- 
ity  of  the  })rescnt  town  of  Portland),  but  in  vain;  and  in 
the  ensuing  spring  the  whole  district  was  ravaged  by  the 
enemy.  The  Knglish  settlers  at  the  East,  after  the  event, 
no  longer  dared  to  remain  exposed  to  attacks  of  the  sav- 
ages, and,  deserting  tluMr  homes,  collected  at  the  fortified 
post  at  Wells,  ill  the  south  of  Maine. 

Church's  second  eastern  expedition,  in  September,  1090, 
was  against  the  Indian  forts  on  the  Androscoggin.  With 
little  resistance  he  drove  olf  the  occupants,  released  several 
English  captives,  and  took  ])risoners  several  members  of 
the  families  of  the  noted  Sachems  Waroiubo  and  Kaidca- 
niagus.  A  number  of  Indian  {)risoners  were  brutally  mur- 
dered by  the  successful  party ;  but  two  old  squaws  were 
left  to  deliver  a  message  to  their  own  peo])le  that  Captain 
Church  had  been  there,  and  with  him  many  Indians  for- 
merly adherents  of  King  Philip;  and  to  re])ort  fui-thcr,  as 
a  warning,  what  great  success  he  had  met  with  in  the  war 
against  the  great  sachem.  Word  was  also  left  that  if  the 
fugitives  "had  a  mind  to  sec  their  wives  and  children,  they 
should  come  to  Wells'  garrison."  With  respect  to  the  mas- 
sacre of  prisoners  on  this  occasion,  Ave  arc  left  to  infer  that 


:a  i'i  if  if 

■  ■ '?'!  mm 

''A  ■# 'lil' 


yi. 


-'       I  \  .•  >,   ..V'  '.;•«.  \i 
■*'■ .  ,:■  *i'  •   ;.'  ,  ■-':■:•  ' 


^^mim 


■■',  i  If 


■•'      i',      If      V  ■1V.-1 


fe  i  I 


-:f»  w 


^  u 


27G 


INDIAN  racp:s  of  amkrica. 


•>  ■■■'■ 


a  portion  of  tliom,  at  least,  consisted  of  women  and  children. 
Tlio  old  nan-!itivo  here  as  elsewhere  is  rather  blind,  and 
deficient  in  detail,  but  if  the  facts  were  as  alxn'c  su^csted, 
the  rt'hole  history  of  these  Indian  wars  does  not  |)rescnt 
a  more  revolting  instance  of  cold-blooded  barbarity.  That 
the  act  was  done  by  Church's  orders,  or  that  it  was  coun- 
tenanced by  him,  seems  utterly  incredible  when  compared 
with  his  usual  course  towards  ))risoners.  Of  one  man, 
who  Wivs  cai)turi;d  in  the  takinir  of  Waronibo's  fort,  it  is 
said:  "The  soldiers  being  very  rude,  would  hardly  s))are 
the  Indian's  life  while  in  examination;"  and  it  is  possible 
that  they  might  have  committed  the  wanton  butchery 
above  mentioned  without  their  commander's  concurrence. 
We  would  not,  however,  endeavor  to  screen  the  guilty; 
and  if  Church  is  to  be  held  responsible  for  the  murder, 
it  certaiidy  mu.st  leave  a  black  and  indelible  stain  upon 
his  character. 

From  the  j)lundered  fort  Church  proceeded  to  Casco, 
where  he  engaged  the  enemy,  and  beat  them  oil",  but  not 
without  the  loss  of  about  thirty  of  his  own  men  in  killed 
and  wounded. 

In  August,  1092,  Church  was  again  commissioned  by 
Sir  William  Phii)i)s  to  undertake  an  expedition  against 
the  Indians  at  Penobscot;  and,  although  he  failed  to  sur- 
prise the  enemy,  who  escaj)ed  in  their  canoes,  he  destroyed 
a  quantity  of  their  jtrovision,  and  brought  away  a  consid- 
erable amount  of  jilunder. 

A  force,  sent  into  Maine,  in  1093,  under  Major  Convers, 
was  opposed  by  none  of  the  natives,  and,  within  a  short 
time  after,  these  miseral)le  peojde  were  glad  to  conclude  a 
treaty  of  })eace  with  the  English  at  Pemmaquid,  where  a 
strong  fort  had  been  erected  in  1090.  At  this  negotiation 
the  hostile  tribes  delivered  hostages  as  a  security  that  they 
would  cease  depredations  and  renounce  their  allegiance  to 
the  French.      Many  of  them  were,  notwithstanding,  in- 


■'»:; 


hihlnn. 
lid,  and 
^gosted, 
prosont 
r.    That 
as  coun- 
jinpared 
ne  man, 
fort,  it  is 
Uy  sparo 
;  possible 
butchery 
curvence. 
e  guilty; 
•  niuvdor, 
;ain  upon 


to  Casco, 
r,  but  not 
I  ill  killed 

sioiied  hy 

m  against 

ed  to  snr- 

dt^stroyed 

,'  a  con 


sid- 


,r  Convers, 
liii  a  short 
conclude  a 
1,  where  a 
negotiation 
y  that  they 
Icgiancc  to 
Binding,  ia- 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


277 


duccd  to  join  tlic  invasion  under  M.  de  VilUcre,  in  the 
following  year. 

In  this  campaign,  the  first  object  was  the  destruction  of 
the  settlement  on  Oyster  river,  near  ]>'^vcr,  New  Uanip- 
sliire,  where  twelve  houses  liad  been  garrisoned  and  ])iit 
in  a  state  of  defence.  Five  of  these  were  forced,  (ind 
nearly  one  hundred  persons  were  killivl  or  taken  jn-isoneiN; 
the  other  strongholds  made  a  suceessful  defence,  but  liftei'ii 
unprotected  houses  were  burned.  Nothing  of  special 
interest  occurred  in  connection  with  tlie  Eastern  Indians 
from  this  time  until  1(596.  During  the  summer  of  that 
year,  some  blood  was  shed  by  the  savages  at  Portsmouth 
luul  Dover;  but  the  most  important  occurrence  of  the 
season  was  the  reduction  of  the  strong  fort  at  Pemmaquid 
liy  the  enemy.  Church  was  also  engaged  in  another  east- 
ern canii)aign  in  the  months  of  August  and  September, 
but  (,)wing  to  orders  received  from  the  colonial  authorities, 
lie  was  im])eded  in  the  prosecution  of  his  plans,  and  noth- 
ing of  s[>eeial  iiKnuent  was  elfectcd. 

In  January,  10119,  the  war  with  the  French  being  at  an 
end,  the  Indians  of  Maine  and  New  Hampshire  entoi'cd 
into  a  treaty  of  jieace  with  the  English  colonies — acknowl- 
edging, by  their  principal  sachems,  allegiance  to  the  King 
of  England. 

When  war  was  again  declared,  in  May,  1702,  the  old 
diniculties  with  the  Indians  were  speedily  renewed.  Gov- 
ernor Dudley,  of  Massachusetts,  endeavored  to  preserve 
peace  with  these  tribes,  and  concluded  a  negotiation  with 
many  of  their  chiefs,  at  Casco,  in  June  of  the  following 
year.  This  a})pears  to  have  been  a  mere  blind  on  the  i)art 
of  the  savages,  then,  as  ever,  favorable  to  the  French;  lor 
only  a  few  weeks  subsequent  to  the  treaty,  a  simultaneous 
attack  was  made  upon  the  eastern  English  settlements. 
Every  thing  fell  before  the  enemy ;  houses  were  burned, 
property  of  every  kind  was  destroyed  or  plundered,  and 


'<k.i 


}ii 


• '  ■  '  ■■'  ,,-1'  i'<.'  ( ■'•'  •■  .■  *  I 


278 


IXDIAN  RACES  OF  AMKlilCA. 


■ «   •, 


one  hundred  and  thirty  of  the  inhabitants  were  slain  or 
captured. 

The  news  of  the  terrible  calamities  attendant  on  the 
dostrijetion  of  Deerfield,  in  the  winter  of  1703-4,  conibiiu'd 
with  what  he  had  himself  witnessed  •  >\.'  Indian  cruelties, 
incited  Major  Church  to  volunteer  his  further  service!; 
against  the  enemy,  "Ilis  blood  boiled  within  liini,  mak- 
ing such  impulses  on  his  mind  thai  he  forgot  all  fonnci' 
treatments,  which  were  enough  to  hinder  any  man,  esju-- 
cially  the  said  Major  Church,  from  doing  any  further  ser- 
vice." His  offers  were  gladly  accepted,  and  a  very  con- 
siderable force  was  put  under  his  command,  with  a  good 
supply  of  whale-boats,  the  necessity  for  which  he  hail  seen 
in  former  campaigns  along  the  irregular  and  indented 
coast  of  Maine. 

This  was  the  last  military  duty  undertaken  by  the  old 
soldier,  and  it  was  performed  with  his  usual  skill  ami 
energy.  The  Indian  towns  of  Minas  and  Chigneet(j  wciv 
taken,  and  the  enemy  was  successfully  engaged  at  otlici' 
points.  The  most  noted  event  of  the  expedition  was  tho 
night  attack  at  Passamaquoddy.  In  the  midst  of  the  con- 
fusion incident  to  the  marshalling  of  disorderly  and  undis- 
ciplined troo])s,  an  order  was  i.ssued  by  Church  Ibi'  tlic 
destruction  of  a  house,  and  of  its  iidiabitants,  who  lunl 
refused  to  surrender.  In  his  own  words:  "I  hastily  bid 
them  pull  it  down,  and  knock  theni  on  (lit  limd,  never  ask- 
ing whether  they  were  French  or  Indians — they  being  all 
enemies  alike  to  me."  In  a  note  to  this  transaction,  Mr. 
Drake  says:  "Jt  does  not  appear,  from  a  long  career  oC 
useful  sei'vit.'cs,  that  Church  was  ever  rash  or  cruel.  From 
the  extraordinary  situation  of  his  men,  rendered  doubly 
critical  by  the  darkness  of  the  night,  and  the  almost  cer- 
tain intelligence  that  a  great  army  of  the  enemy  were  at 
hand,  is  thought  to  be  sufficient  excuse  for  the  measure." 
The  major,  in  his  own  account,  adds:  "I  most  certainly 


NEW  KNGLANU   INDIANS. 


279 


know  tliat  I  was  in  an  cxcectling  grout  passinn,  but  not 
with  those  poor  niiserablu  oncniiea;  for  I  took  no  notico 
of  a  half  a  dozen  of  the  enemy,  when  at  the  same  time  I 
cx[)cetcd  to  be  engaged  with  some  hundretls  of  them. 
*  *  In  this  heat  oi'  action,  every  word  that  1  then  spoke 
I  cannot  give  an  account  of;  and  I  })rcsunic  it  is  impossi- 
ble." Quarter  v.'.i.;  sliown  to  all  who  came  out  and  sub- 
mitted, ui)on  requisition. 

From  the  close  of  the  war,  and  the  conclusion  of  peace 
with  France,  in  1713,  luitil  1722,  there  was  little  to  disturb 
the  eastern  frontier,  further  than  some  contentions  between 
the  colonists  and  Indians  arising  out  of  disputed  titles  to 
land.  A  Frenchman  named  Halle,  of  the  order  of  Jesuits, 
resided,  in  1721,  among  the  Indians  at  Norridgcwock,  and 
being  suspected  by  the  English  of  exerting  a  pernicious 
influence  over  his  flock,  a  party  was  sent,  by  the  Massa- 
chusetts government,  to  seize  upon  his  ]i(>rsnn.  Halle 
escaped,  and  the  undertaking  only  hastened  hostilities. 

Indian  depredations  soon  commenced,  and  war  was 
regularly  decl.'ired  by  ^Massachusetts.  For  three  years  the 
frontier  settlements  sulfered  severely.  IMie  Knglish  suc- 
ceeded in  breaking  up  the  princiixd  head-cpnartm-s  of  the 
enemy,  viz:  at  the  Indian  castle  some  distance  up  the 
Penobscot,  and  at  the  village  of  NoiTidgewock. 

At  the  taking  of  the  latter  place,  Halle,  with  from  fifty 
to  a  hundred  of  his  Indian  comrades,  ])erishcd. 

One  of  the  most  noted  among  the  Englisli  campaigners 
during  this  war,  was  the  famous  Ca]>tain  John  Lovewell,  of 
Dunstable.  Ilis  adventures,  and  particularly  the  flglit  at 
Pigwacket,  on  the  Saco,  in  which  he  lost  his  life,  wei'c 
widely  celebrated  in  the  rude  verse  of  the  times. 

This  engagement  was  the  last  important  event  of  the 
war;  the  Indians  were  greatly  reduced  in  numbers,  and, 
when  no  longer  stimulated  and  supported  by  the  French, 
were  incapable  of  any  systematic  warlike  operations. 


•I 


.<'!/' 


mm 


/■■■  '>;;3' 


",1    ''^".ii 


;».'■■ 


:•■ ;  Him 


THE  IROQUOIS,  OR  SIX  NATIONS. 


CHAPTKU  I. 

* 

OENERAI,    OtrTLlNES    (iF    ClfAKACTEK.    ETC  —  IMl'IIKSSIONS    OF    THE 

INIIAHITANTS  OF  NI'.W   EN(iI,ANI)  HE.sl'KCTI  N'C  THE     IlloqUOlS — 

GAKANGULA:    IIIS  speech  to  M.   DE   1,A    liAUllE. 


None  ,^f  the  Tiulian  nations  of  tlic  rnitml  States  have 
occu})iod  a  more  iniportnut  j)la('o  in  our  national  liistory, 
than  the  I'tMiownciI  (lonfcMlijraey  wliirli  forms  the  sultject  of 
our  })r('sent  consi(U'ration. 

Various  Now  Kugland  trihes  wore  rothiood  to  a  (hsj^raeofiil 
trihuto  to  the  imperious  Moha,<fS,  Mawhawks,  >[ohawks  or 
Macjuas;  tlic  groat  nation  of  I'owliatau  stood  in  awe  of  the 
warli]<e  Massawomokes;  and  those  assot'iatod  in  tliis  power- 
ful  league  had  heeomc  a  terror  to  all  against  whom  tliey  had 
lifted  up  tlunr  arms.  They  wore  ealled  Jro<[Uois  hy  the 
FroiHih,  who  found  their  head-<[uarters  on  the  St.  Law- 
rence, where  Montn^al  now  stands,  at  the  heginniug  of  the 
seventeenth  century.  Their  native  apjiollation  was  Aga- 
nuseliioiii  (variously  spelt  and  translated),  and  tliey  wore 
divided  originally  into  live  trihos.  '^I'lioso  wore  the  Mo- 
hawks, tlie  Oneidas,  the  Cayugas,  the  Ouondagas  and  the 
Seneeas.  The  Tuscaroras,  from  the  s<  mtli,  wore  afterwanls 
united  with  them,  and  formed  the  sixth  nation.  Each 
tribe  was  sub-divided  into  cla.sses,  distinguished  by  tlio 
"totems,"  or  symbols  of  the  tortoise,  the  liear,  the  wolf, 
the  beaver,  the  deer,  the  falcon,  tlie  jjlover,  and  the  crane. 


THE  UtOQUOIS,  OR  SIX  NATIONS. 


2SL 


Soino  very  singuliir  uhu^o'S  woni  coimukiUmI  with  this  cl!l^<s- 
itU'iition.  Aiiionj^  other  thing's,  niiirriiij^'o  was  prohibited 
between  iiuUvithiiils  hearing  tlio  sumo  totetn,  a  rcstrietion 
whieh  oi)eratc(l  strongly  to  extend  the  ties  of  faniily  cf)n- 
not'tion.  Kiieh  of  the  niitiotis  was  dividcil  in  the  same 
manner,  jukI  the  ilistinctive  badge  gave  its  bearer  pecMliar 
privileges  among  those  of  his  own  ehiss,  when  uway  IVoin 
iionie. 

The  first  military  exploits  recorded  of  the  Iroquois,  with 
the  exception  of  native  tradition,  are  their  battles  with 
the  Adirondaeks,  in  whieh  they  were  engaged  when  lirst 
known  by  the  French.  Becoming  skilled  in  war,  and 
being  of  a  bold,  adventurous  spirit,  after  finally  deli-ating 
the  Adirondaeks,  the  live  nations  extended  their  c()n([uests 
to  the  south  and  west.  The  Mohawks,  although  not  the 
most  numerous  ])ortion  oi'tlu;  united  trib(>s,  furnished  the 
fiercest  and  most  nMloubted  warriors,  ^fo  give  an  idea  of 
the  estimation  in  which  tliey  wore  held  by  the  Indians  of 
New  i'lngland,  we  cite  the  following  account,  given  by 
(uKikiii,  in  his  historical  collections,  written  in  1()74,  of  the 
lirst  of  the  tribe  Avith  whom  the  eastern  colonists  held  any 
intercourse. 

"These  Ma(iuas  are  given  to  rapine  and  spoil;  and  had 
for  several  years  been  in  hostility  with  our  neighbour  In- 
dians, as  the  Mas.sacluisetts,  I'atituckets,  &,e.,  &e.  And,  in 
truth,  they  were,  in  time  of  war,  so  great  a  trrrour  to  all 
the  Indians  before  named,  though  ours  we'-e  far  more  in 
number  than  they,  the  ap[)earanee  of  four  or  live  Maipias 
in  the  woods,  would  lVight(.'ii  tliem  from  their  habitalions 
and  cornfields,  and  reduce  many  of  them  to  get  together 
in  forts."  In  September,  of  10(!5,  "there  wen;  five  Maw- 
hawks  or  ^^aquas,  all  stout  and  lusty  young  men,  and  well 
armed,  that  came  into  one  John  Taylor's  house,  in  Cam- 
bridge, in  the  afternoon.  They  were  seen  to  come  out 
from  a  swamp  not  far  from  the  house."     Each  had  a  gun, 


m 


!•     -'   .'>■ 


„'*1     ' 


■v(i 


■■n 


'■f>'.  ■■■' 


.  .':  'i 


:( •' ,  ■ 


•fi 


;<  ■■•  rem,,,  t-:, ■,.,'■• 


282 


IXUIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


V 


'^•'^■M. 


pistol,  luilclict,  ami  long  knife,  and  "the  people  of  tlic 
house  ptTceived  that  their  speech  Avas  dillerent  iVoin  our 
neighbour  Indians;  for  those  ^Marpiaa  speak  hollow  and 
through  the  throat,  more  than  our  li  dians;  and  their  lan- 
guage is  understood  hut  by  very  few  of  our  neighbour 
Indians." 

It  seems  these  Mohawks  came  with  the  intention  of 
being  apprehended,  that  they  might  see  the  ways  of  tlic 
English,  and  display,  at  the  same  time,  their  own  eoura'^u 
and  daring.  They  made  no  resistance  when  a  party  eanic 
to  seize  them,  but,  "at  their  being  imprisoned,  and  their 
being  loaden  with  irons,  they  did  not  ap})ear  daunted  er 
dejected;  but  as  the  manner  of  those  Indians  is,  they  saii"- 
night  and  day,  when  they  were  awake." 

On  being  brought  before  the  court  at  Boston,  thev  disa- 
vowed any  evil  intent  towards  the  English,  saying  that 
they  were  come  to  avenge  themselves  ujion  tlieir  Indian 
enemies.     "They  Avere  told  that  it  was  inhumanity,  ;; 


and 


more  like  wolves  than  men  to  travel  and  wander  so  IJir 
from  home  merely  to  kill  and  destroy  men,  women,  ami 
children, — for  they  could  get  no  riches  of  our  Iiiihaiis, 
who  were  very  poor, — and  to  do  this  in  a  secret  skulking- 
manner,  lying  in  and)ushment,  thickets,  and  swamps,  ]>y 
the  wayside,  and  so  killing  people  in  a  base  and  ignoble 
manner,"  ko. — "  To  these  things  they  made  answer  sIk )rt] v : 
'It  was  their  trade  of  life:  they  were  bred  up  by  their 
ancestors  to  act  in  this  way  towards  their  enemies.'" 

-  11  the  Indians,  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  were  eager 
that  these  ea])tives  should  be  jait  to  death,  but  the  conrt 
adopted  the  wiser  policy  of  sending  them  home  in  safety, 
with  presents  and  a  letter  to  their  sachem,  cautioning  him 
against  allowing  any  of  liis  people  to  make  war  against 
the  i)eaceable  Indians  rnider  the  protection  of  the  English. 

About  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century,  the  Iro- 
quois, having  amiihilated  the  powerful. nation  of  the  Erie.-, 


of  tlic  Erict, 


THE  IROQUOIS,  OR  SIX  NATIONS. 


283 


occupied  no  small  portion  of  that  vast  extent  of  coun 
try,  lying  between  the  St.  Lawrence  and  the  great  lakes, 
and  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers.  Tlicy  even  extended 
their  hostile  incursions  '\v  south  and  west  of  these  great 
boundaries.  The  })reseiiL  state  of  New  York  contained 
their  principal  cstabUsliments,  and  the  picturesf|ue  river 
and  lakes  U])ou  wliieh  tliey  dwelt,  still  perpetuate  the 
names  of  the  eoufederate  tribes.  These  people  held  inter- 
course with  the  whites,  of  a  very  diiferent  nature  iVoia  that 
which  characterized  the  reduction  and  huniiliation  of  the 
unfortunate  natives  of  Xew  England.  Placed  as  they 
wei'e  between  powerful  colonics  of  contending  Kui'opean 
nations;  their  favor  courted  upon  terms  of  ctprality  by 
emissaries  IVom  either  party;  the  authorit}'  of  their  chiefs 
acknowledged,  and  the  solemnity  of  tlieir  councils  respected 
by  the  whites;  and  conscious  of  proud  sii})eriority  over 
all  surrounding  native  tribes,  it  might  well  be  expected 
that  they  would  entertain  the  higlicst  sense  of  their  na- 
tional importance. 

No  American  tribe  ever  produced  such  an  array  of 
renowned  warriors  and  oratoi'S  as  those  immortalized  in 
the  history  of  the  Six  Nations.  Such  a  regular  system  o£ 
federal  goverimient,  where  the  chief-men  of  e;ich  member 
of  the  league  met  in  one  grand  council,  to  sustain  the 
interests  of  their  tribe,  or  enforce  the  views  of  thcii'  con- 
stituents upon  subjects  of  state  policy,  in  matters  ol'  vital 
importance  to  the  whole  nation,  elicited  all  the  jiowers  of 
rude  native  eloquence.  Never  in  the  histoiy  of  the  world 
has  the  stirring  elleet  of  accomplished  oi'atory  been  more 
strikingly  displayed  than  in  the  councils  of  these  untaught 
sages.  The  S2)eechcs  of  Logan,  licd-.lacket,  and  others, 
fortunately  preserved,  have  been  long  considered  master- 
pieces of  forcible  declamation. 

The  addi'css  of  Garangula,  or  Grand  Gueule,  to  the 
Canadian  governor,  M.  de  la  Barre,  has  been  often  tran- 


*■    :,t. 


'< 


■.,■:■:  ■um 


:iC*K 


!,r^  .:.Ar^ 


!>f 


■•■ilfe 


''mm 


284 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


'■^*fv^^;  ■*.;.;,.. 


scribed,  but  is  so  strikingly  characteristic  of  Indian  stylo, 
that  we  must  find  place  for  at  least  a  portion  of  it.  About 
the  year  1684,  the  French,  being  at  peace  Avith  the  Iro- 
quois, took  the  opj)ortunity  to  strengthen  and  enlarge  tlieir 
dominions  by  fortifying  and  adding  to  their  posts  upon  the 
western  waters.  In  carrying  out  this  purpose,  they  si-nt 
large  supplies  of  ammunition  to  their  Indian  allies;  tribes 
hostile  to  the  confederacy.  The  Iroquois  took  prompt 
measures  to  check  this  transfer  of  means  for  their  destruc- 
tion, and  the  French  governor,  angry  at  their  interference, 
determined  to  humble  them  by  a  decisi.c  pampaign.  lie 
collected  a  strong  force  at  Cadaraqui  fort;  but,  a  sickness 
breaking  out  among  his  troops,  he  was  obliged  to  give 
over,  or  delay  the  prosecution  of  his  purpose.  He  there- 
fore procured  a  meeting  with  the  old  Onondaga  sachem, 
and  other  Indian  dejiuties  at  Kaihoage,  on  Lake  Ontario, 
for  a  conference.  He  conuucnced  by  recapitulating  the 
injuries  received  from  the  Five  Nations,  by  the  plunder  of 
French  traders,  and,  after  demanding  ample  satisfaction, 
threatened  the  destruction  of  the  nation,  if  his  claims  were 
disregarded.  He  also  falsely  asserted  that  the  governor  of 
New  York  had  received  orders  from  the  P^nglish  court  to 
assist  the  French  army  in  the  proposed  invasion. 

The  old  chief,  undisturljed  by  these  menace's,  having 
taken  two  or  three  turns  about  the  apartment,  stood  before 
the  governor,  and,  after  a  court(.!ous  and  formal  jorologue, 
addressed  him  as  follows:  (\ve  cite  from  Drake's  Book  of 
the  North  American  Indians)  "Yonondio;  you  must  have 
believed,  when  you  left  (iuebeck,  that  the  sun  had  burnt  up 
all  the  forests  which  render  our  country  inaccessible  to  tlie 
French,  or  that  the  lakes  had  so  far  overflown  the  banks, 
that  they  had  suri'oun(l(Ml  our  castles,  and  that  it  was  im- 
possible f(jr  us  to  get  out  of  them.  Yes,  surely  you  nuist 
have  dreamt  so,  and  the  curiosity  of  seeing  so  greiit  a 
wonder  has  brought  you  so  far.     Now  you  arc  undeceived, 


=^ 


ri 


(' 


•''  '-f™ 


THE  IllOQUOIS,  OK  SIX  NATIONS. 


285 


since  that  I,  and  the  warriors  here  present,  are  come  to 
assure  you  that  tlic  Senecas,  Cayugas,  Onondagas,  Oneidas 
and  Mohawks  are  yet  aUve.  T  thaidc  you  in  their  name, 
for  bringing  back  into  their  country  tlic  cahimet  which 
your  predecessor  received  from  tlieir  liands.  It  was  happy 
for  you  that  you  left  under  ground  that  murdering  hatcliet 
that  has  been  so  often  dyed  in  tlie  blood  of  the  l^'reuch. 

"Hear,  Yonondio;  I  do  not  slccj:);  I  have  my  eyes 
open;  and  the  sun  which  enlightens  me,  discovers  to  me 
a  great  captain,  at  the  head  of  a  com2)auy  of  soldiers,  who 
speaks  as  if  he  were  dreaming.  He  says  that  he  oidy  came 
to  the  lake  to  smoke  on  the  great  calumet  with  the  Onon- 
dagas. l^ut  Cirangula  says,  that  he  sees  the  contrary; 
that  it  was  to  knock  them  on  the  head  if  sickness  had  not 
weakened  the  arms  of  the  French.  I  see  Yonondio  raving 
in  a  cam])  of  sick  men,  whose  lives  the  Great  Spirit  has 
saved  by  inflicting  this  sickness  upon  thern, 

"Hear,  "^\)nondio;  our  women  had  taken  their  clubs, 
our  children  and  old  men  had  carried  tlieir  bows  and 
arrows  into  the  heart  of  your  camp,  if  our  warriors  had  not 
disarmed  them,  and  kept  them  back  when  yourmessenger, 
Akouessan,  came  to  our  castles.  It  is  done,  and  I  have 
said  it. 

"Hear,  ^'onondio;  we  plundered  none  of  the  French, 
but  those  that  carried  arms,  })Owder  and  ball  to  the 
Twightwies  and  Chictaghicks,  because  those  arms  might 
have  cost  us  our  lives.  Heroin  we  ibllow  the  example  of 
the  Jesuits,  who  break  all  the  kegs  of  rum  brought  to  our 
castles,  lest  the  drunken  Indians  should  knock  them  on 
the  head.  Our  warrioj's  have  not  beaver  enough  to  pay 
for  all  those  ai'ms  that  they  have  taken,  and  our  old  men 
are  not  al'raid  of  the  war.     ^J'his  Ixlt  preserves  my  words." 

The  orator  continued  in  the  same  strain,  asserting  the 
independence  and  freedom  of  his  nation,  and  giving  sub- 
stantial I'casons  for  knocking  the  Twightwies  and  Chic- 


"^1  I 

( 


•«  '*■*: 


M 


•  iW 


( 1 


u  ,1 


f!     1 

■V 

,1 

^;r'1 

t 

45;u!..f1. 

1  . 

k          1 

;  ^<m^ 

,     ■ 

>,•       .    '  \  S**!^  S ;; 

If 

;.  <l4lMi 

'>^^^*^tiffll 

.    > 

lir. 

'' '  *  mWiM 

»;■' 

f  ; 

t'i 

iufslMtlMSSi 

,i'.* 

Msm 

wriim™ 

it: 


Y. 

ii 
'ft 


V 


286 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


tagliicks  on  the  head.  He  concluded  by  magnanimously 
olleriiig  a  present  of  beaver  to  the  governor,  and  by  in- 
viting all  the  company  present  to  an  entertainment.  At  the 
end  of  each  important  section  of  a  speech,  it  was  usual  for 
the  speaker  to  proffer  a  belt  of  wampum,  to  be  kept  in  per- 
petual memory  of  that  portion  of  his  oration,  a  circumstance 
exjDlanatory  of  the  concluding  words  of  the  above  quotation. 


CHAPTER  II. 

IROQUOIS  TRADITIONS  RELATIVK  TO  THKIR    FOUMKR    HISTORY — A 

BRIEF  ACCOUNT  OF  TIIK   DIFFERENT  TRIBES  BELONGING  TO 

THE  CONFEDERACY,  AND   THE    MANNER    OF  THEIR 

UNION INCIDENTS  OF  EARLY  WARFARE. 

Some  fanciful  tales  of  a  supernatural  origin  from  the 
heart  of  a  mountain ;  of  a  migration  to  tlie  eastern  sea- 
board; and  of  a  subsequent  return  to  tlie  country  of  lakes 
and  rivers  where  they  finally  settled,  comprise  most  that 
is  noticeable  in  the  native  traditions  of  the  Six  Nations, 
prior  to  the  grand  confederation.  Many  of  the  ancient 
fortifications,  the  remains  of  which  are  still  visible  through 
the  state  of  New  York,  were  said  to  have  been  built  lin' 
defence  while  the  tril)cs  were  disjoined,  and  hcjstile  to  each 
other. 

The  period  when  it  was  finally  concluded  to  adjust  all 
differences,  and  to  enter  into  a  '  •  ,gue  of  mutual  protection 
and  defence,  ^s  altogether  uncertain.  The  most  distin- 
guished authors  who  have  given  the  subject  their  attention, 
incline  to  the  opinion  that  this  took  place  ^vitliin  less  than 
a  century  anterior  to  the  English  colonization  in  the  (\ist. 
Whatever  may  have  been  the  precise  time  of  the  new 
organijcation,  its  results  were,  as  we  have  seen,  brilliant  in 
the   extreme.     None   of  the   ruder   nations   of  Eastern 


THE  IROQUOIS,  OR  SIX  NATIONS. 


2«7 


America  liave  ever  dispLiyed  such  a  coml)i  nation  of  qual* 
ities  tluit  command  rcsjiect  as  tliosc  of  wliom  \vc  arc  now 
treating.  Tlio  nature  of  the  league  Avas  decidedly  demo- 
cratic; arbitrary  power  was  lodged  in  the  liands  of  no 
ruler,  nor  wa.s  any  tribe  allowed  to  excrci,se  discretional 
authority  over  another.  A  singidar  unanimity  wa.s  gen- 
erally obsevvaljle  in  their  conncils;  theriglits  and  opinions 
of  minorities  were  respected;  aiid,  in  no  instance,  were 
measures  adopted  which  met  the  sanction  of  but  a  bare 
majority. 

We  arc  told  that  for  a  long  period  before  the  revolution, 
the  Iroquois  chiefs  and  orators  held  up  their  own  confed- 
eration as  an  example  for  the  imitation  of  the  English 
colonics. 

Each  tribe  had  one  principal  sachem,  avIio,  with  an 
uudefiued  nunilxT  of  associates,  took  his  post  in  the  great 
councils  of  the  nation.  A  grave  and  decent  dolibcrnlion 
was  seen  in  all  their  iissend)lics,  forming  a  striking  contrast 
to  the  trick(>ry  and  chicane,  or  noisy  misrule  too  t)ften  vis- 
ible in  the  Icirislative  halls  of  enlightened  modern  nations. 

The  Mohawks  were  esteemed  the  oldest  of  the  tribes, 
and,  as  they  were  always  the  most  noted  in  warlike  ti'aiis- 
actit)ns,  one  of  their  sachems  usually  occujiied  the  position 
of  conuuandcr-in-chief  of  the  active  forces  of  tlic  united 
people.  The  settlement  of  this  tribe  was  in  eastern  Xew 
York,  U[)on  the  ^^ohaw]c  river,  and  along  the  shores  of  the 
Hudson.  From  their  villages,  in  these  districts,  their  wai'- 
parties  ravaged  or  subdued  the  feebler  nations  at  the  east 
and  south,  ami  their  favor  was  only  obtained  by  trilnite  and 
submission. 

Next  in  order,  proceeding  westward,  dwelt  the  Oncidas, 
whose  central  locality,  suiiplying  the  place  ol'  a  state 
capital  for  the  national  council,  was  the  celebrated  Oneida 
stone.  This  mass  of  rock,  crowning  the  sununit  of  a  hill 
which  comnumds  a  beautiful  view  of  tlie  vaUey,  is  still 


.^f 


■:i-J 


.(.'■'     ,"■ 


;/    '■ 


'   ■"''''  '■  v? 


]  .1  m 


'1 


n 


j 


rri 


288 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMEUICA. 


pointed  out  in  the  town  of  Stockbridge,  about  fifteen  or 
twenty  miles  south-east  of  the  Oneida  hike.  1'his  tribe  is 
su])posc(l  t(j  liave  been  tlie  hast  of  the  Five  Nations  to  have 
adoi)ted  a  sej)ai'ato  name  and  government,  in  early  ages, 
prior  to  the  grand  union.  It  produeed  bold  and  enter- 
prizing  wai-riors,  who  extended  their  excursions  far  to  the 
south,  and  by  some  of  whom  the  sixth  tribe — the  Tusca- 
roras — was  lirst  conducted  northward. 

The  Onond-igas  oecujiied  the  country  between  the 
Oneida  and  Cayuga  lakes.  According  to  some  theories, 
all  the  other  tribes  were  derived  from  this,  and  certain  it 
is  that  the  ci\"il  ruler  of  the  confederacy  was  iUways  from 
Onondaga,  and  here  was  ever  the  grand  central  council- 
lire.  Monarchs  of  the  tribe  were  said  to  have  reigned,  in 
regular  succession,  from  the  first  period  of  its  nationality 
to  the  time  of  Europcon  colonization. 

In  near  })ro\imity  to  each  other,  upon  the  beautiful 
lakes  which  still  bear  their  name,  were  settled  tlie  C"yu- 
gas  and  iSenecas.  The  last-mentioned  tribe  has  always 
been  by  far  the  most  numerous  of  those  uiiiteil  by  the  league. 

'i'he  Tuscanu'as  were,  by  their  own  account,  a  braiieh 
from  the  original  stock  of  the  Iroquois.  Migrating  fir.st 
to  the  west,  and  thence  south-easterly,  they  had  finally  set- 
tled upon  the  Neuse  and  Tar  rivers,  in  North  Carolina, 
Surrounded  by  hostile  Indians,  who  proved  unable  to  cope 
with  the  interlopers,  these  warlike  peo2)le  maintained  their 
position  until  early  in  the  eighteenth  century.  They  then 
endeavored  to  exterminate  the  English  coloni.sts  ol'  their 
vicinity.  r)n  an  a))pointed  day,  (September  22,  1711,) 
divided  in  small  ])arties,  they  entered  the  villages  ol'  tlic 
whites,  in  a  manner  intended  to  ward  olf  sus])icioii,  and 
attempted  a  general  ma.ssacre.  Other  coast  Indians  were 
involved  in  tlic  conspiracy. 

One  hundred  and  thirty  whites  arc  said  to  have  ])erishoil 
on  that  day;  but  so  far  from   being  a  successful   blow 


i 


'mi 


W.f 


ndiiuis  wore 


TUE  IROQUOIS,  OR  SIX  NATIONS. 


289 


against  the  advance  of  tlie  colonies,  tlie  plot  only  aroused 
a  8i)irit  of  retaliation,  wliich  resulted  in  the  expulsion  of 
the  tribe.  With  the  assistance  of  forces  from  South  Caro- 
lina and  Virginia,  the  war  was  carried  on  vigorously;  and 
in  ^fareli  of  1713,  the  main  fort  of  the  Tuscaroras,  upon 
Tar  river,  to  which  they  had  retreated,  was  stormed  by 
Colonel  Moore,  and  eight  himdred  prisoners  were  taken. 

Being  now  reduced  to  submission,  such  of  the  tribe  as 
remained  in  Carolina  yielded  to  the  reciuircmcnts  and 
regulations  of  their  conquerors.  The  major  portion  movcnl 
to  New  York,  and  formeil  the  sixth  nation  of  the  Tro(piois. 
They  were  established  in  the  immediate  Jieighborhood  of 
the  Oneidas. 

Many  strange  legends  of  early  warfare  between  the  Iro- 
quois and  distant  tribes  at  the  south  and  west  have  been 
preserved.  The  particulars  of  some  of  those  narratives 
can  be  relied  upon,  while  others  are  evidently  exaggerated 
and  distorted  in  the  tradition.  At  the  south,  the  most 
famous  of  their  op})onents  were  the  gi'oat  nation  of  the 
Delawares,  the  Cherokees,  and  the  ancient  tribe  from  whom 
our  principal  chain  of  mountains  dei'ive  a  name,  'i'hey 
always  claimed  that  the  Lenni  Lena})e,  or  Delawares,  were 
a  conquered  peoj)le,  and  avssumed  the  haughtiness  of  supe- 
riors in  all  their  conferences  and  dealings  with  them.  No 
hostilities  took  place  between  the  two  nati(.)ns  after  hluro- 
pean  settlements  were  established  in  the  et)untry. 

The  Clierokee  war  gavt  rather  an  opportunity  for 
displays  of  individual  energy  and  daring,  than  lor  any  ile- 
cisive  exhibition  of  national  power.  Tlie  distance  to  be 
traversed  was  so  great,  that  it  was  never  undertaken  by 
any  large  body  of  warriors.  Small  }iai'iies,  who  could 
make  their  way  unpereeived  into  the  heart  (^f  the  enemies' 
country,  and  retire  as  stealthily  with  their  tro])hies  of  scalps, 
frequently  sought  such  opportunity  of  jtroving  their  hardi- 
19 


'■•-  ';    (!; 


■•"■*',.'-■> 

■;';.'  '',  f'it 

.   ■->;■■.■., 

''■'>'■;>,■  W 

■■^■:M 

■'^■.■■'tM 

V  t 

■i'  ■•  ,V.S. 

■■':;''^ih 

"  .■  :'    .  ■■t 

■  ^-^:f: 

".(  *  ' 

■'^v'i'Hi 

■  '.    '         ' 

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■:i 


■ ",    "■«'l 

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''    ■.■''•i'vi'S 


=S1 


290 


INDIAN   JiACES  OF  AMEllICA. 


■I 

1 


u 


liood.  Olio  of  llit^  stories  told  of  tlioso  early  exploits,  is 
thiit  of  the  ScMHM'ii  waiTior,  Ifiiideoiii,  He  is  said  to  huvc 
started  aloiu^  on  a  war-path,  and  to  have  p(uu'lrated  tho 
country  of  the  Clicrokees,  supported  l)y  sueh  {)rovisioas 
as  he  could  procure  on  tho  route,  and  a  little  parched  corn 
which  he  carried  with  him  when  he  set  out. 

Prowling  about  the  enenues'  villages,  ho  managed  to 
dispatch  two  men  and  to  secure  their  scalps.  He  then 
started  on  his  return,  and,  late  in  the  evening,  killed  ami 
scalj)ed  a  young  man  wliom  he  saw^  coming  out  of  a  retireil 
wigwam.  The  hut  appeared  to  he  empty,  ami  lie  coiiM 
not  resi.st  the  temptation  to  enter  it  in  search  of  ])hmder; 
especially  that  he  might  satisfy  his  craving  for  tobacco. 

While  there,  the  young  man's  mother  entered  the  wiu- 
wain,  and,  mistaking  lliadeoni,  who  had  thrown  hiniself 
upon  the  bed,  11  ir  her  son,  told  him  that  she  was  going  awav 
for  the  night.  Tlie  weary  Seneca,  seduced  by  the  case  of 
a  long-unaecustDiiicd  couch,  fell  into  a  sound  slumber,  from 
which  he  was  only  awakened  by  the  old  woman's  return  in 
the  morning.  Taking  advantage  of  a  moment  when  shcliaij 
left  the  hut,  to  slip  out,  he  made  the  best  (^f  his  way  north- 
ward, but  tlie  alarm  had  been  given,  and  it  was  only  ly 
his  great  swiftness  that  he  escaped.  lie  carried  the  thrci' 
scalps  in  triumph  to  his  own  people. 

Many  similar  legends  arc  preserved  among  the  Indians, 
of  the  bravery  and  determined  spirit  of  revenge  in  which 
tlieir  forefathers  gloried.  One  of  those  which  has  been 
given  with  the  greatest  particularity,  is  the  noted  c.\})C(li- 
tion  of  the  Adirondack  chief  Piskanit  and  his  four  a.-^so- 
ciates.  In  the  long  and  bloody  war  between  that  tribe  and 
the  Five  Nations,  the  latter  had  attained  the  ascendaiicv 
by  a  scries  of  victories,  and  the  five  w\arriors  alluded  to 
undertook  to  wij)c  away  the  disgrace  of  defeat.  Proceed- 
ing up  the  Sorcl,  in  a  single  canoe,  they  fell  in  witii  five 
boat-loads  of  the  enemy,  and  immediately  commenced  their 


deatli-j 
useless 
from  t 
small  c 
tlieir  o 
were  ca 
water: 
and  toi 
Piskarc 
Olid  wa 
glory  ct 
mcnt  ol 
further 
started  ji 
every  ])r 
,    ravages; 
Jiarty  as 
choosing 
he  reacln 
coaled  dii 
ciiciiiies 
pcaljicd  tl 
was  statif 
,    iiig  an  oil 
lioad,  a  nil 
His  spcrJ 
'  and,  thrj 
advance 
ertions. 
the  day's 
ceiving  til 
and  carril 
The  Ir 
and,  witlJ 
ofDcla 


TUE  IliOQUOIS,  OR  SIX  NATIONS. 


291 


death -soTifr,  as  if  oscnpo  wcro  inipoHsiblo  and  rosistance 
useless.  As  the  Iroquois  ajtj.roaehcd,  u  sudden  discharge 
from  the  Adiroiidaek  muskets,  whic.li  were  loaded  with 
small  chain-shot,  destroyed  the  frail  bivch-bavk  canoes  of 
their  opponents.  At  such  a  disadvantrgc,  the  Iroquois 
were  easily  knocked  on  the  head  as  the^  floundered  in  the 
water:  as  many  as  could  be  safMy  secured  were  taken  alive, 
and  tortured  to  death  at  their  capt(jrs'  leisure.  None  of 
Piakarct's  companions  would  accompany  him  upon  a  sec- 
ond war-path  wliich  he  jiroposed.  They  had  acquired 
glory  cnougli,  and  were  content  to  remain  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  .1  well-earned  reputation,  without  undt'r^ding 
further  hardships  and  danger.  The  bold  chief  tliercforc 
started  alone  for  the  heart  of  the  enemies'  country.  C^sing 
every  precaution  for  concealment  and  deception  known  to 
savages;  reversing  his  snow-shoes  to  mislead  a  pursuing 
party  as  to  the  direction  he  had  taken;  and  carefvdly 
choosing  a  route  where  it  would  be  dillicult  to  track  him, 
he  reached  one  of  the  Iroquois  towns.  Lying  closely  con- 
cealed during  the  day,  he  stole  into  the  wigwams  of  his 
enemies  on  two  successive  nights,  and  murdered  and 
scalped  the  slee}Mng  occu])ants.  The  third  night  a  guard 
was  stationed  at  every  lf)dge,  but  I'iskaret,  stealthily  wait- 
ing an  opportunity,  knocked  one  of  the  watehmeu  on  tho 
head,  and  fled,  hotly  pursued  by  a  party  from  the  village. 
His  speed  was  superior  to  that  of  any  Indian  of  his  time, 
and,  through  the  whole  day,  he  kept  just  sufhciently  in 
advance  of  his  pursuers  to  excite  them  to  their  utmost  ex- 
ertions. At  niglu,  they  lay  down  to  rest,  ami,  wearied  with 
tlic  day's  toil,  the  whole  party  fell  asleep.  Piskaret,  })cr- 
ceiving  this,  silently  killed  and  scalped  every  man  of  them, 
and  carried  home  his  trophies  in  safety. 

The  Iroquois  were  generally  at  enmity  with  the  French, 
and,  within  a  few  years  after  the  futile  attempt  on  the  part 
of  Dc  la  Banc,  which  we  have  mentioned  in  a  preceding 


''  "i'f  i 

mp 

1'         ' !'  %  i 

W^-r. 

!  ,:  "u',nnfti-i'. 

^''■'^■r'^Pn 

-  I-  -n  ^:Jr\^ 

'   ■    ,  1;    /V'lt-  ■..■!, 

.  .  •'     'S'V'V.jVi' 

■'•■;<;   '-vv;'?;'i 

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':    ■■.'■■■-'r| 

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■      •    ■-.  '  ''"'v,;'.i:p 

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■'  ■■■'■::"M 

■   ••::,   ■'■vi 

*-■  .itm 

'•.'■■'5l 


%u 

292 


INDIAN'  HACKS  OF  AMERICA. 


If  •'  /- 


cliaptcr,  scenes  of  frightful  cruelty  and  hlooclslied  were 
enacted  on  both  sides.  The  confederacy  was  then,  as  long 
afterwards,  in  the  English  interest,  and  the  conquered 
Ilurons,  or  AVyandots,  whom  tliey  had  driven  far  west- 
ward, naturally  espoused  the  cause  of  the  French.  Having, 
however,  no  cause  for  ill-will  against  the  English,  exce])t 
as  being  allies  of  their  foes,  the  Ilurons  were  not  unwilling 
to  hold  intercourse  with  them  for  puri)oses  of  profitable 
traffic. 

A  strange  piece  of  duplicity,  conducted  with  true  In- 
dian cunning;  by  Adario,  or  the  Rat,  sachem  of  the 
Diiumdadies,  a  Wyandot  tribe,  vvas  the  immediate  Ciiiise 
of  hostilities.  He  lell  his  head-quarters,  at  Miehiliniaek- 
inae,  with  one  hundred  warriors,  whether  with  intent  to 
make  an  incursion  upon  the  Jro(piois,  or  merely  upon  a 
sort  of  scout,  to  keep  liimself  informed  of  the  movements 
of  the  contending  parties,  does  not  a})}iear.  He  stoi)pi'(l  at 
the  French  fort  of  Cadaraqui,  and  learned  from  the  oHicer 
in  command  that  a  })eace  was  about  to  be  concluded  between 
the  French  and  Iroquois;  dcjmties  for  which  purjtose  were 
even  then  on  their  way  from  the  Six  Nations  to  Montreal. 

X(jthing  could  be  more  distasteful  to  the  Kat  than  a 
treaty  of  this  character,  and  lu;  promptly  determined  to 
create  a  breach  between  the  negotiating  })arties.  lie 
therefore  lay  in  wait  for  the  ambassadors;  fell  iq)on  theiii; 
and  took  all  who  were  not  slain  in  the  conflict  prisoners. 
He  pretended,  in  discourse  with  these  cajitivc.^,  that  lie 
was  acting  under  the  direction  of  the  French  authoritie.«i, 
and  when  the  astoni.shed  deputies  made  answer  that  they 
wen;  bound  upon  peaceful  embas,sy,  in  accordance  with  the 
invitation  of  the  French,  he  assumed  all  the  aj)pearance  vt 
astonishment  and  in(ligiiati(m  at  being  made  an  instrument 
fo;r  so  treacherous  an  act.  lie  immediately  set  his  prison- 
ers at  liberty,  gave  them  arms,  and  advised  them  to  rouse 
up  their  people  to  avenge  such  foul  injustice. 


>•'';, ».-'!' 


:  ri  ^fl 


THE  lUOQUOIS,  OR  SIX  NATIONS. 


293 


By  this,  and  other  ornially  artful  irianagcmcnt,  A(hirio 
stirred  up  the  iiiDSt  uneoutrolhiblc  ra<:;c  in  the  minds  of 
tlio  Troquois  against  the  French,  and  a  long  and  disastrous 
war  followed.  It  was  in  vain  that  the  Canadian  governor 
attcmjjted  to  explain  the  true  state  of  affairs.  The  Iro([U()is 
ever  held  the  French  in  suspicion,  and  would  not  be  dis- 
iil)used.  They  invaded  Canada  with  an  irresistible  force. 
We  have  no  record  of  any  period  in  the  history  of  Amer- 
ica in  which  the  arms  of  the  natives  were  so  successful. 
Twelve  hundred  warriors  ])assed  over  to  the  island  upon 
which  Montreal  is  situated,  and  laid  waste  the  country. 
Nearly  a  thousand  of  the  French  arc  said  to  have  been 
slain  or  reserved  for  death  by  fire  and  torture.  Neither 
age  nor  sex  proved  any  ])rotection,  and  the  scenes  desci'ibed 
surpass  in  Injrror  any  thing  before  or  since  experienced  by 
the  whites  at  the  hands  of  the  Indians. 

The  war  continued  for  years,  and  the  name  of  Black 
Kattle,  the  most  noted  war-chief  of  the  leagued  nations, 
became  a  word  of  terror.  He  fonght  successfully  against 
superior  nnnd)ers  of  the  French;  and  it  is  astonishing  to 
read  of  the  trifling  loss  which  his  bands  sustained  in 
many  of  their  most  desjierate  engagements. 

The  great  orator  of  the  nation,  at  this  period,  was  named 
Decanisora;  he  appeared  more  preeminently  than  any  other 
in  all  the  public  negotiations  of  the  tribe,  and  was  one  of 
the  deputies  who  were  duped  by  the  subtle  contrivance  of 
Adario. 

We  have  already  mentioned  that  the  Six  Nations  gen- 
erally Aivored  the  Flnglish,  and  that  between  them  and  the 
French,  feelings  of  the  bitterest  animosity  prevailed.  The 
recollection  of  the  scenes  which  attended  the  sack  of  Mon- 
treal must  constantly  have  vstrengthened  this  hatred  on  the 
part  of  the  Canadians,  while,  on  the  other  hand,  the  In- 
dians could  point  to  acts  of  equal  atrocity  and  cold-blooded 
cruelty  exercised  towards   some  of  their  own   number 


;'    I,  ', 


,  r.'   I'',  ly 


J 


v.  - 


J 


i   < 

1<> 


<*^-i 


,  ':     ..-fill: 


29J: 


INDIAN   RAOEH  OF  AMKUICA. 


when  tal<Pii  ciiptivo.  ^fotui while,  tlio  I'^ri^^lish  af,'(Mita  were 
ussiduoiis  ill  (.'ultivatiii;^  tlio  I'licinlsluj)  ol'  the  powerful 
coiiii'tleraev  ^vllt)se  sajfaeity  and  ^ood  faith  in  eouiieil,  and 
>vhose  stivn'ith  in  battle,  hail  bi'i-n  so  thorouf^dily  testtMl, 
In  the  }■  ear  1710,  throe  Inxiuuis  and  two  Mohof^an  sucheuis 
were  invited  to  visit  tlu;  I'lii.^lish  eonrt,  and  they  sailed 
for  Knjilaml  aeeordin-^iy.  The  j^n'tatest  interest  was  lelt 
hy  \uy:h  and  low  in  their  a})i)earanee  and  derni'aiior,  TIk^v 
were  royally  aeeontered,  and  presented  to  Qnccn  Anno 
with  courtly  ccroniony.  'J'he  anthentieity  of  the  set 
speeches  recorded  as  ha\in;^-  been  delivered  by  them  on 
this  occasion,  has  been  shri'wdly  called  iti  question.  Tlio 
Spectator,  of  April  '27th,  1711,  in  a  h'tter  written  to  show 
liow  the  absurdities  of  Kn<:,lish  society  niij^dit  strike  a  i'^y- 
oi<4'ner,  gives  a  sort  of  diary  as  having  been  written  hv 
one  of  these  sachems.  The  article  opens  thus;  "When 
the  four  Indian  Kings  were  in  this  country,  about  a  twelve- 
month ago,  I  often  mixed  with  thi^  rabble,  and  Ibllowcd 
them  a  whole  day  togetlu-r,  being  womlerfully  struck  with 
the  sight  of  every  thing  thai  is  new  or  uncommon."  The 
writer  })artieuluri/.es  "our  go  '.  brother  1'].  Tow  O.  Koani, 
king  of  the  Rivers,"  and  spiaks  of  "the  kings  of  Granajali 
(Canajoliarie)  and  of  the  Six  Nations."  This  latter  a]»pel- 
latioii,  as  observed  by  Mr.  Drake,  seems  to  call  in  ([uestinn 
the  correctness  of  the  date  usually  assigned  to  the  event 
of  the  auuexatiou  of  the  Tuscarorus. 


A  IL^^ 


TUE  luoyi'ois,  on  six  nations.  295 

CIIAI'TKU   111. 

iMrOKTANT  rHARArTKHS  AND  KVKNTS  OK   TIIK  RHIIITKKNTH  TEN- 
TiniS' — llltA.NT — C11KSA1''.S  WAU,  AND  lllSTdllV  Ol'  I,()(iAN. 

DuiilXd  the  loii<^  luul  bloody  w.ars  bt'twccu  the  Mii^lish 
and  l''i'ciu'h,  the  Six  Niitioiis  were  coiitimuilly  involved  in 
hostilities,  oc('ii])yiiijr,  ;is  tliey  did,  a  ]iositioii  hetAveen  the 
(■(iiiti'iidiii;^^  [KirlieH.  'r(j  describe  ull  the  juu't  they  took  in 
ili(>so  tfansiietions,  would  bo  to  <,nve  u  history  of  the  wur. 
Tliis  is  Ihr  iVoiii  our  imrposi^  to  uudertuke,  and,  in  hi'in,if- 
iii.u;  down  events  to  the  jieriod  of  the  i\nierie;m  revolution, 
we  shall  bestow  but  a  iiassin<^  notice  upon  some  of  the 
more  |ii'oinineut  incidents  in  whieli  tiie  Ii'oi|Uois,  as  a  na- 
tion, or  distinjj,uished  individuals  of  their  tribe,  bore  u 
i'(iiis]iicuous  part, 

Joseph  Ibanl. — Thayendanaj^eji.,  (as  he  usually  si;j,ued 
liinisell',)  was  horn  in  the  year  i7-i2.  It  has  been  a  matter 
iiiiicli  disputeil  whether  he  was  a  h;dfd)reed,  or  of  pure 
liidiiiii  (h'scent,  and  also  whether  he  was  entille(l  to  the  di^'- 
iiitv  of  a  chief  l)y  birth,  or  ros(!  to  it  by  his  own  exertions, 
liis  bio,L;ra])her,  Stone,  prononnees  him  to  have  been  tho 
sou  of  "'rehowa^^'hwen.uarauhkwin,  a  fulhblooded  !Mo- 
hiiwk,  of  the  Wolf  tribe.''  His  j>arents  resided  in  the 
valley  of  the  Mohawk,  but  were  u})on  an  exj)editiou  to 
the  Ohio  river  when  -Joseph  was  born.  Youn<r  IJj'ant  was 
early  taken  under  the  ))atrona<,^e  of  Sir  William  Johnson, 
the  En<>lish  colonial  agent  for  Indian  ail'airs,  under  whose 
conunand  he  gained  his  lirst  knowledge  and  experience  of 
military  alfairs.  Many  have  exj)re.«sed  the  0))inioii  that 
Brant  was  ;i  son  of  Sir  William;  but  we  can  account  for 
their  mutual  interest  in  each  other's  welfare  upon  other 
grounds  than  those  of  natural  ail'eetion.  Sir  AVilliani 
Johnson  was  idolized  by  the  whole  Mohawdc  tribe  for  tho 
favor  and  respect  which  lie  had  shown  them,  and  for  his 


'   '■>   ■'•'■4. 


■■'-^ 


V' 


l;Ui 


::('■ 


'■;|3jafei!ai 


t-i-ii^ani'.e']  *■■ 


'*Hi«Pi 


'  '    '"''k 


1 
I 


296 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


princely  liospitiility.  With  the  fumily  of  lirimt  he  was 
more  closely  connected  by  a  union  with  ^lollv,  a  sister  of 
Joseph's,  Avho  lived  with  him  as  a  mistress  until  his  death. 

In  the  year  1755,  Brant,  then  but  thirteen  years  of  age, 
took  ))art  with  his  tribe  in  the  battle  at  Lake  George 
where  titc  French,  under  Baron  Dieskaru,  were  defeated 
by  Sir  William  Johnson  and  his  forces.  Old  king  Ilcn- 
driek  or  Soi-en-ga-rah-ta,  the  noted  sachem  of  the  Mo- 
hawks, perished  on  tiiis  occasion,  lleudriek  was  nearly 
seventy  years  of  age,  but  years  had  not  diminished  his 
energy  or  courage.  Historians  vie  with  each  other  in  tin' 
praises  which  they  bestow  upon  the  eloquence,  braver\-, 
and  integrity  of  this  old  chief  lie  was  intimate  with  his 
distinguished  Knglish  co)nmander,  and  it  was  between 
them  that  the  amusing  contention  of  dreams  occurred,  tluit 
has  been  so  often  narrated.  With  the  Iroquois  a  dream 
was  held  to  import  verity,  insomuch  that  it  nuist  be  I'ullil- 
led  if  })raeticable.  Sir  William  (then  general)  J(^hnsun  liad 
dis])layod  some  splendid  and  costly  uniforms  l;)elbre  the 
eyes  of  his  admiring  guests,  at  one  of  his  munilieent  en- 
tertainments. Old  Ilendriek  came  to  him  one  morniii'f 
shortly  after  wards,  and  gravely  aflirmed  that  he  had  dreai  I  lei  1 
of  receiving  one  of  tlujse  gorgeous  suits  as  a  present.  The 
general  instantly  })rese!ited  it  to  him,  ^ut  took  the  opiior- 
tunity  to  retaliate  by  dreaming  of  the  cession  of  three 
thousand  acres  of  valuable  land.  The  sachem  was  not 
backward  in  carrying  out  his  own  })rinciples,  but  at  the 
same  time  avowed  his  intention  of  dreaming  no  more  with 
one  whose  dreams  were  so  hard. 

To  return  to  young  Brant :  after  acecmpanying  his  jiatroii 
in  further  cam]):iigns  of  the  bloody  French  war,  he  was 
placed  by  him,  together  with  several  other  young  Indians, 
at  an  institution  in  Lebanon,  Connecticut,  called  the  Ab)or 
School,  after  its  founder,  to  receive  an  English  educali(»ii. 
This  was  about  the  year  1700.    After  attaining  some  ])ro- 


;|     m 

am 


ficiency  i 
wards  tu 


again  en 


Sii* 


-^j'. 


josF.m  iiii-1 


Y r-  •/■  n.i  YFxn -i .vf.o  f:.i. 


THE  IliOQUOIS,  OR  SIX  NATIONS. 


297 


ficiency  in  the  first  rudiments  of  literature,  wliicli  lie  after- 
wards turned  to  good  account,  Brant  left  the  seminary,  and 
again  engaged  in  a  life  of  active  warfare.  He  was  em- 
ployed in  the  war  with  Pontiac  and  the  Ottawas,  but  the 
particulars  of  his  services  are  not  handed  down  to  us.  In 
1705,  we  find  him  married  and  settled  in  his  own  house 
at  the  Mohawk  valley.  Here  he  sj)ent  a  quiet  and  peace- 
ful life  for  some  years,  acting  as  interpreter  in  negotiations 
between  his  people  and  the  whites,  and  lending  his  aid  to 
the  cfForis  of  the  missionaries  who  were  engaged  in  the 
work  of  teaching  and  converting  the  Indi.nis.  Those  who 
vi.sited  his  house,  spoke  in  high  terms  of  his  kindness  and 
hospitality. 

On  the  death  of  Sir  William  Johnson,  in  June,  1774,  liis 
son-in-law.  Colonel  Guy  Johnson,  held  his  office  as  Indian 
agent;  while  his  son  and  heir.  Sir  John  Johnson,  succeeded 
to  the  jiaternal  estates.  Colonel  Guy  continued  the  favor 
shown  by  his  flither  to  Brant,  and  appointed  him  his 
secretary. 

Ill  the  spring  of  this  same  year  a  war  commenced,  the 
causes  of  which  have  been  variously  represented,  but 
whose  consequences  were  truly  disastrous.  We  allude  to 
the  scenes  in  western  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania,  so  inti- 
matelj'  connected  with  the  names  of  Logan  and  Cresap. 
Colonel  Michael  Cresaj)  has  been,  for  many  years,  hcl  1  up 
to  public  omum  by  nearly  every  historian,  as  the  cruel  and 
wanton  murderer,  whose  unscrupulous  conduct  was  the 
sole  or  princi})al  cause  of  the  bloody  Indian  war  of  which 
we  arc  now  to  speak,  and  which  is  still  spt)ken  o!"  as 
Cresap's  war.  On  the  other  hand,  some  recent  investiga- 
tions, made  public  by  Mr.  Brantz  Mayer,  of  Baltimoi-e,  in 
an  address  delivered  before  the  Maryland  Historical  So- 
ciety, seems  to  remove  no  little  portion  of  this  re;«ponsi- 
bility  from  the  shoulders  of  Cresap,  or  at  least  prove  that 
the  acts  with  which  his  name  has  been  so  long  associated 


■ffi 


!;v 


(•' 


I 

•  1 


..air 


^ 


298 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AMERICA. 


,  '  ,  ..■«  • 


r.M" 


were  not  directly  uttributtible  to  liiin.  He  is  sliown  to 
Lave  been  a  prudent  and  cautions  man,  who  exerted  his 
inniience  to  restrain  the  reckk^ss  adventurers  under  his 
command  from  wanton  outrages  upon  the  Indians.  AVc 
shall  xiot  'ittempt  to  decide  upon  the  question  as  to  how- 
far  he  was  blrmcable,  but  give,  in  few  words,  the  cireuin- 
stances  wh!  ;i.  brought  about  liostilities. 

Logau  was  the  son  of  Shikellimus,  a  Cayuga  ehii'f, 
who  had  removed  to  the  banks  of  the  Susquehiuma,  and 
ruled  oN'er  those  of  die  Iroquois  who  had  settled  in  that 
vicinity.  Logan  himself  had  attained  authority  farther  to 
the  westward,  upon  the  Ohio,  in  the  Shawanese  count  rv. 
He  had  ever  been  of  a  peaceful  disposition,  and  fricndly 
to  the  whites. 

A  party  of  land-hunters,  who  had  chosen  Cresap  as  their 
leader,  arc  said  to  have  committed  the  first  direct  acts  of 
hostility,  in  retaliation  for  a  supjiosed  theft  of  some  of  their 
horses.  We  are  told  that  they  fell  upon  and  treaehemusly 
murdered  several  of  a  party  of  Indians  whom  they  lell  in 
with,  on  the  bank  of  the  Ohio,  below  the  spot  where 
Wheeling  now  stands,  and  that  among  the  slain  were  some 
relatives  of  Logan.  AVith  the  next  rilptui'e,  Cresiip  had 
certainly  no  connection.  It  occurred  at  a  white  settlement, 
thirty  or  forty  miles  further  up  the  river.  Two  men. 
named  Greathouse  and  Tondhison,  were  the  principal 
leaders  in  the  aft'air.  They  had  ascertained  that  the  In- 
dians, then  encamped  on  tlie  other  side  of  the  river,  intended 
an  attack  upon  the  })lace,  in  retaliation  for  the  mni'dcrs 
committed  by  Cresap's  men.  Finding,  on  examination, 
that  the  Inclians  were  too  numerous  to  be  safely  assaulted 
in  their  camp,  Greathouse  opened  a  communication  with 
them,  and  invited  them  to  come  and  drink  and  feast  at 
liis  house.  A  party  of  armed  whites  lay  concealed  in  a 
separate  apartment,  and  when  the  Indians  became  intoxi- 
cated, slaughtered  the  whole  number,  of  both  sexes,  spar- 


TUE  IROQUOIS,  OH  SIX  NATIONS. 


209 


ing  only  one  cliild.  A  brother  and  sister  of  Logan  were 
among  tlie  slain.  Mr.  Mayer's  aeeount  (in  which  the  scene 
is  laid  at  the  house  of  "Baker,"  instead  of  Greathousc,)  is 
as  follows: 

"The  evening  before  the  traged}',  a  squaw  came  over  to 
Baker's,  and  aroused  the  attention  of  the  inmates  by  her 
tears  and  manifest  distress.  For  a  long  time  she  refused 
to  disclose  the  cause  of  her  sorrow,  but  at  last,  when  left 
alone  with  Baker's  wife,  confessed  that  the  Indians  liad 
resolved  to  kill  the  wdiite  woman  and  her  family  the  next 
day;  but  as  she  loved  her,  and  did  not  wish  to  see  her 
slain,  she  had  crossed  the  river  to  divulge  the  plot,  so  as 
to  enable  her  friend  to  escape."  Next  day  four  unarmed 
Indians,  with  three  squaws  and  a  child,  came  over  to  Ba- 
ker's house,  where  twenty-one  men  were  concealed,  in 
anticipation  of  attack,  as  above  mentioned.  The  party 
became  intoxicated,  and  Logan's  brother  was  insulting  and 
abusive:  at  the  same  time  canoes  filled  with  painted  and 
armed  warriors  were  i^^icn  starting  from  the  opposite  shore; 
upon  which  the  massacre  commenced  as  above  stated. 
After  this  savage  murder  of  women  and  unarmed  men, 
the  whites  left  the  house,  and,  firing  upon  the  canoes,  jire- 
venicd  their  landing. 

These  occurrences,  with  the  death  of  the  old  Delaware 
chief.  Bald  Eagle,  who  was  causelessly  murdered,  scalped, 
and  set  adrift  down  the  river  in  his  canoe,  and  the  murder 
of  the  Shawanees  sachem.  Silver  Heels,  brought  down  the 
vengeance  of  the  aggrieved  parties  upon  the  devoted 
settlements. 

Tlie  ensuing  summer  witnessed  terrible  scenes  of  surprise 
and  massacre,  the  chief  mover  in  which  was  the  injured 
Logan.  Stirred  as  he  was  by  revenge,  the  natural  kind- 
ness of  his  heart  was  shown  in  his  disposition  towards 
captives,  w^hom,  iri  various  instances,  he  favored  and  saved 
from  Indian  cruelties. 


i ,  ¥ 


«. 


.-if 


*     *<\ 


'h 


1 

i 

,»fc  -\ 

A 

300 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


I''  ■•■.  I 


^1 


Tlic  hostile  tribes  ^vere  those  of  the  Iroquois  who  dwelt 
in  the  western  country,  the  Shawanecs,  the  Delawares,  tho 
lowas,  and  other  nations  of  the  west.  Indecisive  skir- 
mishes occtipicd  the  summer,  and  not  until  the  10th  of 
October  was  any  general  engagement  brought  about. 
Oil  that  day  a  battle  was  fought  at  Point  Pleasant,  where 
the  Great  Kanawha  em})ties  into  the  Ohio,  between  the 
combined  forces  of  the  Indians,  and  the  Virginia  troops, 
under  Colonel  Andrew  Lewis.  Lord  Dunmore,  governor 
of  Virginia,  was  to  cooperate  by  a  movement  upon  the 
other  bank  of  tho  river,  but  did  not  actually  take  any  part 
in  the  contest. 

The  Indians  numbered  probably  over  a  thousand,  and 
were  led  by  Logan  and  the  great  warrior  Cornstock. 
Never  had  the  natives  fought  more  desperately,  or  made 
a  stand  against  PJuropean  troops  with  more  determined 
firmness.  They  had  prepared  a  sort  of  breast-work,  be- 
hind which  they  maintained  their  position,  in  spite  of  tlie 
repeated  charges  of  the  whites,  until  night.  They  were 
at  last  drl  n  from  their  works  b}'  a  company  detached  to 
fell  upon  their  rear,  and,  crossing  the  Ohio,  the  survivors 
retreated  westward. 

At  Chilicothe,  en  the  Sciota,  the  chiefs  held  a  grand 
consultation;  and  their  princij)al  warrior,  Cornstock,  si'o- 
ing  that  the  rest  were  determined  upon  no  certain  plan  of 
proceeding,  expressed  his  own  intention  of  concluding  a 
peace.  He  accordingly  sought  Lord  Dunmore,  who  w;is 
approaching  the  camp  on  the  Sciota,  and  brought  about  a 
scries  of  conferences,  whereby  hostilities  were  for  tlio 
time  stayed, 

Logan  would  take  no  part  in  these  negotiations;  he  is 
reported  to  have  said  that  "he  was  yet  like  a  mad  dojr; 
his  bristles  were  up,  and  were  not  yet  quite  fallen ;  but  tlie 
good  talk  then  going  forward  miglit  allay  them,"  A  mes- 
senger was  sent  by  Lord  Dunmore  to  strive  to  appease 


THE  lUOQUOIS,  OE  SIX  NATIONS. 


801 


him,  and  it  was  upon  that  occasion  that  the  Indian  chief 
dchvered  himself  of  those  eloquent  expressions  that  have 
attained  such  a  world-wide  celebrity.  lie  walked  into  the 
woods  with  Gibson,  who  had  been  sent  to  visit  him,  and, 
seating  himself  upon  a  log,  "  burst  into  tears,"  and  gave 
utterance  to  his  feelings  in  these  words,  as  they  were  writ- 
ten down  and  re}KU'ted  at  the  time: 

"I  appeal  to  any  white  man  to  say  if  ever  he  entered 
Logan's  cabin  hungry,  and  he  gave  him  not  meat;  if  ever 
he  came  cold  and  naked,  and  he  clothed  him  not?  During 
tlie  course  of  the  last  long  and  bloody  war,  liOgan  re- 
mained idle  in  his  camp,  an  advocate  for  2)eace.  Such  was 
my  love  for  the  whites,  that  my  countrymen  pointed  as  I 
passed,  and  said:  'Logan  is  the  friend  of  the  white  man!' 
I  had  even  thought  to  have  lived  with  you,  but  for  the 
injuries  of  one  man.  Colonel  Cresap,  the  last  spring,  in 
cold  blood  and  unprovoked,  nuirdercd  all  the  relations 
of  Logan,  not  even  sj)aring  my  women  and  children. 
There  runs  not  a  drop  of  my  blood  in  the  veins  of  any 
living  creature.  This  called  on  mc  for  revenge.  I  have 
sought  it.  I  have  killed  many.  I  have  fully  glutted  my 
vengeance.  For  my  country,  I  rej'oice  at  the  beams  of 
peace;  but  do  not  harbor  a  thought  that  mine  is  the  joy 
of  fear,  Ijogau  never  felt  fear.  He  will  not  turn  on  his 
heel  to  save  his  life.  Who  is  there  to  mourn  for  Logan? 
Not  one !" 

Tlie  subsequent  history  of  this  renowned  warrior  is  soon 
told.  He  led  a  wandering,  intein})erate  life  for  several 
years,  and  took  part  in  the  wars  at  the  west  in  1779  and 
1780.  He  is  described  as  having  become  melancholy  and 
wretched  in  the  extreme,  and  as  being  deprived  of  the  full 
use  of  his  reason  by  the  pernicious  habit  of  indulging  in 
strong  drink.  He  came  to  his  death  in  the  latter  year 
under  singular  circumstances.  lie  had,  as  he  supposed, 
killed  his  wiiii  during  a  fit  of  intoxication,  and  fled  from 


L 


j:.;.;|| 

-  \'  '''''•'■Kn.\ 


•r.  ■    ''■'•;*'■;:  ■if I 

'■\m 


m 

"'if 


i 

If  ;> 

i         : 

7 

'■'  '  '■/■■I''  ■'". 

...  ■•".^t 

,ii^;','^ 


•■!.,  V 


'*  '.  '"  -.■•f'  i  ; 


.  ■•S't; J. fit:": %•.,:: 


¥'  W§0i 

^       1  1  S»li  wl^^wti^ 

'  li^w! 

la 

;  ^i|^^ 

>;;    IH^^ 

■i-'V.^^ 


w^ 


302 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AMERICA. 


Detroit,  where  he  had  hecn  present  at  an  Tiidian  ennnoil, 
to  evade  tlic  piiiii.shmeiit  awarded  by  the  native  eode. 
On  liis  way  towards  Sandusky,  he  fell  in  with  a  largo 
party  of  Indians,  among  whom  was  a  relative  of  his, 
named  Tod-kah-dohs,  and  whom  he  took  to  be  the  one 
appointed  to  avenge  the  murder.  According  to  Mr.  ^fay- 
er's  account,  "  rashly  bursting  forth  into  frantic  pa.<si(in, 
he  exclaimed,  That  the  whole  l>arty  should  fall  benciith 
his  weapons.  Tod-kah-dohs,  seeing  their  danger,  and  ob- 
serving that  Logan  was  well  armed,  told  his  companions 
that  their  only  safety  was  in  getting  the  advantage  of  the 
desperate  man  by  prompt  action.  Whilst  leajiiiig  fnuii 
his  horse,  to  execute  his  dreadful  threat,  'J'ud-kah-dnlis 
levelled  a  shot-gun  within  a  k\v  feet  of  the  savage,  and 
killed  him  on  the  spot." 

It  may  well  be  supposed  the  whole  of  the  Iroquois 
tribe  should  have  been  roused  to  indignation  by  the  oc- 
currence which  we  have  described,  and  in  which  some  of 
their  own  brethrt'U  had  borne  so  conspiciU)US  a  part. 
"We  are  told  that  this  v^as  the  case  with  all  of  them  except 
the  Oneidas,  and  that  disaflectiou  towards  the  colonies  hud 
become  general  amorfg  the  western  tribes. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

HISTOUY  OF  BRANT  CONTINUED:    CONNECTION  OF   THE   SIX  NATIONS    } 
WITH  THE  WAR  OF  THE  AMERICAN  REVOLUTION.  * 

Ix  the  year  177";,  when  d'  fhculties  between  the  American 
colonies  and  the  old  cour.i  ■  were  rife,  and  the  ju'ospect 
of  a  long  and  desperate  co.  jntioii  kept  the  minds  of  all 
in  fear  and  anxiety,  it  was  felt  to  be  necessary  on  the  part 
of  the  Americans,  and  politic  on  the  i>;irt  of  the  English, 
to  use  every  endeavor  to  secure  the  services  of  the  Six 


■t'i; 


THE  IROQUOIS,  OR  SIX  NATIONS. 


303 


Nations.  The  ivniLMnbraiice  of  their  noble  jmtroti,  .Sir 
William  .Jcjluison,  caused  the  Mohawks  and  uiaiiv  others 
of  the  coiii'ederacy  to  adhere  firmly  to  his  son-in-laAV  and 
successor,  Guy  Johnson,  and  when  he  fled  westward  to 
the  lakes,  to  avoid  the  danger  of  capture  by  the  Amer- 
icans, Brant  and  the  principal  warriors  of  the  tribe 
accompanied  him.  A  great  meeting  was  held  l)y  them,  to 
discuss  the  policy  which  theyshoiild  pursue;  after  which, 
Johnson  and  his  chiefs  proceeded  to  Montreal,  foUcnved 
by  a  strong  body»of  Indian  warriors.  Sir  Guy  Carleton 
encouraged  the  Iro([uois  sachems  to  accept  commissions 
under  the  king,  and,  what  with  his  pi'omises,  their  atta<'h- 
nient  to  the  Johnson  family,  and  the  renuMubrance  of  old 
pledges,  they  were  thoroughly  confirmed  in  their  [uupose 
of  taking  a  decided  stand  in  favor  of  the  royal  cause. 

The  edbrtsof  the  Americans  proved  loss  successful.  By 
the  aid  of  a  Mr.  Kirkland,  missionary  to  the  Oneidas,  Ihe 
favor  of  that  ti'ibe  was  greatly  conciliated.  J  lis  ellbrts 
wore  assisted  by  the  inlluencc  of  the  Indians  of  Stoek- 
bridge,  a  town  in  wi-sti'rn  Massachusetts.  These  were  the 
remains  of  varicnis  celebrated  tribes  which  had  long 
ceased  to  maintain  a  separate  national  existence.  'J'ho 
principal  portion  of  them  were  descendants  of  the  ancient 
Moheakannuk,  ^rohicans,  or  Biver  Indians,  who  dwelt  on 
the  banks  of  the  Hudson  in  the  early  times  of  American 
culoni/.ation;  but  with  theni  w^re  associated  many  of  the 
Narragansetts  and  Pec^uots,  from  Bhode  Island  and  Con- 
necticut. They  wx^re  entirely  under  the  influence  of  the 
Americans,  and  favorable  to  their  cause. 

A  very  touching  incident  of  private  history,  connected 
with  this  collection  of  dismembered  tribes  after  thei;"  re- 
moval westward,  has  been  immortalized  in  tiie  beautiful 
poetical  legend  by  Bryant,  entitled  "Monument  ^Nfountain." 
The  mountain  stands  in  Great  Barrington,  (western  Mas- 
sachusetts,) overlooldng  the  rich  and  pictures(p;e  valley  of 


I  -.*  I     A. 


•■^•1 


J 


f.l       •  ' 


"J 

!*4 


**>•: 


I-   :.       iB-.,Ji-Miiij.-.-i;W.'.i 


30:t 


INDIAN  HACKS  OF  AMEUICA. 


fie  Ilousntoiiic.  The  following  note  is  appended  to  the 
poem.  "  Until  witliin  ii  few  years  })ast,  small  i)artio«  of 
tliat  tribe  used  to  arrive,  from  their  settlement,  in  tlie 
western  i)art  of  the  state  of  New  York,  on  visits  to  Stoek- 
bridge,  the  place  of  their  nativity  and  former  residence. 
A  young  woman,  belonging  to  one  of  these  parties,  related 
to  a  friend  of  the  author  the  stoiy  on  which  the  poem  of 
Monument  Mountain  is  founded.  An  Indian  girl  had 
formed  an  attachment  for  her  cousin,  which,  according  to 
the  customs  of  the  tribe,  was  unlawful.  She  was,  in  con- 
sequence, seized  with  a  dee})  melancholy,  and  resolved  to 
destroy  herself  In  company  with  a  female  friend,  she 
repaired  to  the  mountain,  decked  out  for  the  occasion  in 
all  her  ornaments,  and  after  })assing  the  day  on  tlie  sum- 
mit, in  singing,  with  her  companion,  the  traditional  songs 
of  her  nation,  she  threw  herself  headlong  from  the  rock, 
and  was  killed." 

*     *    *    "Here  the  friends  sat  tliem  down, 
And  sang  all  day  old  songs  of  love  and  death, 
And  decked  the  poor  wan  vietini's  hair  with  flowers, 
And  prayed  tiiat  safe  and  swift  iniglit  be  her  way 
To  the  ealm  world  of  snnshine,  where  no  grief 
Makes  the  heart  heavy,  and  the  eyelids  red." 


A  conical  pile  of  stones  marks  the  spot  where  she  wa.^ 
buried,  on  the  southern  slope  of  the  mountain. 

The  regular  successor  to  old  king  Ilendrie,  among  the 
Mohawks,  was  Little  Abraham,  a  chief  well  disposed 
towards  the  Americans,  and  who  remained  in  the  ^fohawk 
valley  when  Johnson  and  his  followers  fled  to  Canad'i. 
lie  appears  to  have  [jossessed  but  little  authority  dui'iiig 
the  subsequent  difficulties,  and  Brant,  by  a  sort  of  univer- 
sal consent  among  those  in  the  English  interest,  obtained 
the  position  of  principal  chief  He  was  commissioned  as 
a  captain  in  the  British  army,  and,  in  the  fall  of  1775, 


TUE  moQuois,  on  six  nations. 


805 


sailed  to  England,  to  iiold  j)crs()ii;d  conference  with  the 
oflicors  of  government. 

He  was  an  object  of  much  curiosity  at  London,  and  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  persons  of  high  rank  and  gresit 
tvlehrity.  Ilis  court  dress  was  a  brilhunt  eciuipiniint  niod- 
oled  upon  the  fashi<ins  of  his  own  race;  but  ordinarily  lio 
ai)poared  in  the  usual  citizen's  dress  of  the  time. 

Confirmed  in  his  loyalty  to  the  English  crown,  l^rant 
returned  to  America  in  the  ensuing  spring.  He  was 
secretly  landed  at  sonic  spot  near  New  York,  and  made 
the  best  of  his  way  to  Canada.  The  journey  was  fraught 
with  danger  to  ."^uch  a  traveler,  througli  a  disturbed  and 
excited  comnuuiity,  but  the  native  sagacity  and  watch- 
I'ulncss  of  the  India)i  enabled  our  chief  to  avoid  them. 

lirant  was  gladly  reee'ved,  and  the  services  of  his  war- 
like Mohawks  W(^re  promptly  called  into  reipiisition.  lie 
led  his  peo})le  at  the  all'airof  "the  Cedars,"  which  termi- 
nated so  disasti'ously  lur  the  American  interests.  We  can- 
not minutely  Ibllow  his  movements,  nor  those  of  the  several 
Iroquois  tribes,  for  a  considerable  jjcriod  subseqtient  to 
these  events.  Those  were  stirring  times,  and  in  the  mo- 
mentous detail  of  the  birth  of  American  indepemlence,  it 
is  not  always  easy  to  follow  out  any  private  histi^ry. 

Colonel  Stone,  in  his  life  of  Brant,  gives  us  the  follow- 
ing speech,  as  coming,  at  the  beginning  of  the  ensuing 
year,  iVom  the  chiefs  of  the  Oneidas  to  Colonel  Elmore, 
eommanilant  at  fort  Schuyler.  lie  does  not  attempt  to 
explain  the  full  import  of  it: 

"Fort  SciirYi.F.R,  .Inn.  19il',  1777. 
"  Sprrch  of  ihc  Oneida  Chiefs  to  Cttltiuel  Elmore. 

"Bkotiikk:  We  are  sent  here  by  the  Oneida  chief'^,  in 
conjunction  with  the  Ouondagas,  They  arrived  at  our 
village  yesterday.  They  gave  us  the  melancholy  news 
that  the  grand  c(mncil-lire  at  Onondaga  was  extinguished. 
We  have  lost,  out  of  their  town,  by  death,  ninety,  among 
20 


( 


;•';*' 


.i''."''j 


'■'i".<| 


-V) 


t    ■■■.  1  *  ! 


•fSI 


808 


INDIAN   HACKS  OF  AMKIIK'A. 


whom  are  tlmr  iirinciiml  siiolit'iiis.  Wc,  llio  I'cinaiiiiiig 
jKirt  of  the  Oii<iii<I:igas,  do  now  iiilonii  otir  hrethrfii  thut 
there  is  no  longer  a  eouueil-fire  iit  the  capital  of  ihe  Six 
Nations.  However,  we  ure  detennincil  to  use  our  feehlo 
cndoavourfl  to  su[)[)()rt  peace  througli  the  eonl'ederate  na- 
tions. ]?ut  let  this  be  kept  in  mind,  that  the  couiicil-ftrc 
is  extinguished.  Tt  is  of  importance  to  our  wt'll-hc'hig, 
that  this  be  immediately  communicated  to  General  Schuy- 
ler, and  also  to  our  brothers  the  Mohawks.  Tii  order  to 
cfTcct  this,  we  deposit  this  belt  with  Tekeyanedonhottc, 
Colonel  Elmore,  commander  at  Fort  Schuyler,  who  is  sent 
here  by  General  Schuyler  to  transact  all  matters  relativo 
to  peace.  We  therefore  retpiest  him  to  forward  this  intel- 
ligence, in  the  first  place  to  General  Herkimer,  desiring 
him  to  conuuunieate  it  to  the  M^ohawk  Castle  near  \n  liini, 
and  then  to  ^fajor  Fonda,  re(piestiiig  him  to  iimnediatcly 
f  nnmunicate  it  to  the  lower  castle  of  the  Mohawks.  T,rt 
the  belt  then  be  forwarded  to  General  Schuyler,  tliat  lio 
may  know  that  our  couneil-firc  is  extinguished,  and  can 
no  longer  burn." 


Towards  the  close  of  the  winter  of  1777,  it  was  fonnd 
that  the  Indians  were  collecting  in  force  at  Oghkwaga,  dii 
the  Susquehanna,  and  the  fears  of  the  colonial  population 
of  the  vicinity  were  justly  excited,  although  no  ojien  do- 
monstrations  of  hostility  had  been  made  by  them.  In  tin' 
course  of  the  spring,  Brant  ai^d  his  followers  pi'ocecdi'il 
across  the  country,  from  Canada  to  Oghkwaga.  He  IkuI 
disagreed  with  his  superior,  Guy  Johnson.  The  whites 
were  in  great  doubt  as  to  what  course  this  renowned  clm'f 
would  take  in  the  struggle  then  going  forward,  but  he 
seemed  only  to  occupy  himself  in  collecting  and  disciplin- 
ing his  warriors.  It  was  afterwards  ascertained  that  lie 
was  the  leader  of  a  party  of  Indians  who  threatened  the 
little  fortification  at  Cherry-A'iiJlcy,  in  the  mouth  of  }>hj, 


=1 


15;:  ■: 


TiiK  iiu)gi:t>is,  oil  SIX  naiklns. 


8'J< 


Tlie  only  blood  shod  ni)oii  tlio  oaciisioii  wns  llmt  of  Lieu- 
tenant  Wormwood  a  yonn^  ofl'iccr  whom  the  Indiana 
waylaid  and  shot,  as  ho  was  Icavinir  the  jdaco,  arcompa- 
nied  by  a  sin<^Ic  c'oin|)anion,  bcarinj^  dispatclics.  Brant  is 
said  to  have  scalped  him  with  his  own  hand.  The  Indian 
chief  wns  deceived  as  to  the  strength  of  the  place,  by  the 
duplicity  of  the  disiiatches,  and  by  the  eireurnstanee  that 
a  number  of  boys  wore  goinj^  throutrh  military  evolutions 
at  the  settlonuMit,  whom  he  mistook,  in  the  distance,  lor 
soldiers.  lie  therefore  retired  without  making  any  further 
(lomonstration. 

Jn  June,  he  visited  TJnadilla,  on  the  small  river  of  the 
same  name,  which  empties  into  the  Sp  (uehanna,  forming 
tlic  boundary  between  Otsego  and  ('honango  counties, 
llis  puqioso  was  to  procure  provisions,  which  were  per- 
fiirce  I'urnislied  him;  as  he  avowed  his  intention  to  take 
thorn  by  violence,  if  necessary.  At  a  conference  held,  at 
this  time,  with  some  of  the  authorities.  Brant  expressed 
liimsolf  deeidodly  in  favor  of  tlu;  royal  cause,  alluding  to 
the  old  covenants  and  treaties  which  his  nation  had  in 
former  times  entered  into  with  the  king,  and  comiilaining 
of  ill-treatment  roeoived  at  the  hands  of  the  colonists. 

Shortly  after,  during  this  same  month,  General  Ilerlci- 
mor,  of  the  American  militia,  took  a  strong  force  witli 
liim,  an<l  started  tor  Brant's  head-fpiarters,  whether  with 
intention  of  iittaeking  him,  or  merely  to  treat  upon  terms 
of  t'lpiality,  hardly  a})i)ears. 

15rant  was  very  cautious  of  trusting  himself  in  the  ene- 
mies' hands.  He  did  not  show  himself  for  a  week  after 
Herkimer's  arrival,  and  when  he  tinally  appeared,  and 
consented  to  a  conference,  he  was  aei.'ompanied  and  de- 
fended by  five  hundred  Indiaii  Avarriors.  Every  precau- 
tion was  tak?n  against  treachery;  the  meeting  was  held  at 
a  temporal^  •  building  erected  mid-way  between  the  two 
encampments,  and  the  respective  parties  were  to  assemble 


•    f 


■    i,' 


I    ■   ,•. 


■  I  y 


i   ■ 


■.-■;  .i-r.-.y 


308 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


at  tlic  spot  unarmed.  The  Indian  chief  took  wit.i  him  a 
guard  of  about  forty  warriors,  and  was  accompanied  by 
one  Captain  Ikill,  of  the  English  party,  and  by  his  neplicw, 
WilUam  Johnson,  a  son  of  Molly  Brant  by  Sir  Williuin. 

General  ITerkin^cr  had  long  been  on  terms  of  friendshij) 
with  Brant,  before  the  troubles  arose  between  England  and 
the  American  coloiues,  and  he  vainly  hoped  to  be  able  to 
influence  and  })ersuade  him  into  complaisance  towards  tlic 
new  govcrmnent.  Thayendanegca  was  suspicious,  and 
looked  with  an  evil  eye  upon  the  hostile  array  of  troo])s, 
shrewdly  questioning  the  necessity  for  such  prej)arat>  is 
for  a  mere  meeting  of  conference.  He  fully  confirmed  the 
supposition  that  he  was  determined  to  support  the  king, 
and  evinced  a  i-'oud  dependence  upon  the  power  and 
courage  of  his  own  tribe. 

The  {)arlev  terminated  most  unsatisfactorily,  and  anotlicr 
appointment  was  made.  We  arc  sorry  to  record  an  in- 
stance of  such  unjiardonable  treachery  as  Herkimer  is  saiJ 
to  have  planned  at  thi.^  juncture.  One  uf  his  men,  Jusejili 
Waggoner,  aflirmed  tliat  the  general  privately  exhortcil 
him  to  arrange  matters  so  that  ]')rant  and  his  three  ])i'inci- 
pal  associates  miglit  be  assassinated  when  they  slioulil 
present  themselves  at  the  place  of  meeting.  'I'hc  Indian 
chief,  when  he  came  to  t^'C  council,  kept  a  large  body  uf 
his  warrioi-i-  within  call,  so  that  tlu;  design,  even  if  it  hail 
been  seriously  entertained  b}'^  Waggoner,  could  not  he 
safely  carried  out. 

Brant  counselled  the  general  to  go  quietly  home,  as  lie 
could  not  but  pert?ive  how  much  he  was  out-nundjcred  if 
his  intent  was  liostile.  lie  disavowed  any  present  inimi- 
cal design.  Herkiiner  accordingly  took  his  depaitmv, 
and  Brant,  not  long  after,  marched  his  warriors  to  the 
Briti.sh  place  of  i-endezvous,  at  Oswego.  Here  a  givat 
council  was  held  with  the  Indian  tribes  by  English  emissa- 
ries, who  enlarged  upon  the  ingratitude  and  relx'lliou!^ 


THE  IROQUOIS,  OR  SIX  NATIONS. 


309 


spirit  of  the  provinces,  and  compared  the  power  and  wealth 
of  tlieir  own  monarch  with  the  jiovcrty  of  the  Americans, 

Ai.)iin(hince  of  finery  and  warlilce  imiilements  were 
spread  bef  )re  the  greedy  eyes  of  the  warrior-s,  and  they 
were  told  that  "the  king  was  rich  and  powerful,  both  in 
money  and  subjects,  llis  rum  was  as  plenty  as  the  water 
ill  Lake  (Ontario,  and  his  men  as  numerous  as  the  sands 
upon  its  shore;  and  the  Indians  were  assured  that,  if  they 
would  assist  in  the  war,  and  persevere  in  their  friendship 
for  the  king  until  its  close,  they  should  never  want  for 
wiods  or  money." 

The  bargain  was  struck  accordingly,  and  each  warrior 
wlio  plcflged  himself  to  the  royal  cause  received,  as  earn- 
est of  futui-e  fa\'ors,  a  suit  of  clothes,  a  brass  kettle,  a 
loiualiawk,  a  scalping-knife,  and  a  supply  of  ammunition, 
ln'sides  a  small  ])reseiit  in  money.  The  sagacity  and 
enterprise  of  the  chief,  whose  power  was  now  almost 
universally  submitted  to  by  those  of  the  Six  Nations  that 
favored  the  cause  of  tlie  king,  rendered  the  alliance  a 
f Hiiiidalile  one. 

The  gloomy  prospects  of  the  colonies,  disheartened  as 
tluy  were  by  reverses  and  pecuniary  distress,  grew  tenfold 
darker  at  the  a])prehensiou  of  such  a  bloody  and  cruel 
1m  <vi\cv  warl'are  as  tlicv  might  now  anticipate.  Exaggerated 
tales  were  every  where  (Mrculated  of  the  extent  of  Indian 
de[)rodatioiis  and  cruelties.  There  was,  indeed,  suflicient 
foundation  in  truth  for  the  greatest  ap[n'ehension  and  dis- 
t  ess.  It  is  due  to  many  of  the  British  commanding 
elliccrs  to  say  that  tliey  bitterly  regretted  the  association 
oi'  their  iiartv  with  a  horde  of  murderous  savages,  over 
whose  acts  they  cojild  exercise  no  control,  when  out  of 
their  immediate  iullueuce.  Burgoync  refused  to  pay  the 
expected  btmnty  for  scalps,  to  the  intense  disgust  of  his 
Indian  forces;  and,  to  the  remoiustrance  on  the  part  of 
the  American  general,  against  the  permission  of  the  bloody 


M  1; 


'i 

'  ',,'  ■  1.  '-/'i 

''   :•/  '' '(''ri 

(■■  ;■',    "■'>5 

;  vrj  - 


"f'lVl 


vLW^'l 


'     ''''<! 


iP^^^^ni;-  Veil 


•,:■:,')'.,'' 


-Mi 


C'f  !r^,( 


V  ■•■'.* 


'^:}i'.j;. 


310 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AMERICA. 


scenes  wliiclx  were  continually  enacting,  he  returned  an 
eloquent  disclaimer  of  iiarticipation  in  or  cncouragenieut 
of  such  acts. 

A  large  population  of  those  who  resided  in  the  districts 
more  immediately  exposed,  were  driven  from  their  dwell- 
ings by  the  fear  of  Indian  cruelties.  During  Burgoyue's 
advance,  an  incident  occurred  which  excited  the  .sti-ougcst 
emotionsof  horror  and  indignation  throughout  the  coiuitry. 
We  allude  to  the  well-known  tale  of  the  murder  of  Miss 
Jane  ^IcCrca.  Few  incidents  have  attriu  ti^d  more  nuticc 
in  the  whole  course  of  Indian  warfare  t'"-.^  this,  and  few- 
have  been  rejiorted  in  so  variant  and  distorted  a  stvle. 
Miss  McCrea  was  the  daughter  of  a  gentleman  of  New 
Jersey,  and  was  josidiug,  at  the  period  of  our  present 
narrative,  with  her  brother  John,  near  Fort  Edward,  nj)i)ii 
the  Hudson,  within  a  few  miles  of  Saratoga.  Her  I'aniily 
was  of  the  royal  party,  and  she  was  herself  engaged  h) 
marry  a  young  oflicci'  by  the  name  of  Jones,  then  on  duty 
in  Burgoyue's  army. 

Tiie  promised  husband  commissioned  a  few  Indians  tn 
go  to  the  young  lady's  dwelling,  and  escort  her  thence  to 
the  British  camp.  Against  the  urgent  entreaties  of  her 
friends,  she  put  herself  under  the  protection  of  these  un- 
certain messengers,  and  started  for  the  eneamj)ment.  Her 
lover,  anxious  that  his  errand  should  be  faithfully  ]»•]■■ 
formed,  dispatched  a  second  i)arty  to  join  the  CDUvny.  The 
two  companies  met  a  short  distance  from  Fort  Fdwai'd, 
and  were  proceeding  together  when  tln'v  were  attaekeil 
by  a  part}^  of  Americans.  "  At  the  close  of  the  skirmish," 
says  Stone,  "the  body  of  !Miss  !MeCrea  was  found  among 
the  slain — tomali  ,>-ked,  scalped,  and  tied  to  a  pine-tree, 
yet  standing  by  the  side  of  the  spring,  as  a  monument  nf 
the  bloody  transaction.  The  name  of  the  young  lady  is 
inscribed  on  the  tree,  the  truidc  of  which  is  thiekl>'  sea/red 
with  the  bullets  it  received  in  the  skirmish.     It  also  bears 


the  da 
tion  r( 
each  p 
The 
her  dci 
Indian 
the  rev 
them,  t 
of  tlicii 
Dur: 
march  e 
and  In 
investit 
vineial 
ill  Onei 
The  p05 
of  St.  L 

Tlie 
tiikoi 
Oriskan 
from  ei 
haste  ne 
Leger  s 
com  n  nil 
forceini' 
u  spot  1 
troops, 
the  Am 
inclose* 
a  body 
and  his 
their  nii 
the  bag.! 
Bi-(ji. 
pected  1 


U    '^ 


THE  IROQUOIS,  OR  SIX  I-ATIONS. 


311 


the  date  1777."  lie  cites  furtlicr,  from  Silliman:  "Tradi- 
tion reports  that  the  Indians  divided  tlic  scalp,  and  tliat 
each  party  carried  lialf  of  it  to  the  agonized  lover." 

Tlie  acconnt  usually  received  of  tlic  manner  in  which 
her  death  was  brought  about  is,  that  the  chiefs  of  the  two 
Indian  com]ianies,  (piarrelling  as  +o  which  sliould  receive 
the  reward  (a  barrel  of  rum)  promised  by  Jones,  one  of 
them,  to  end  the  dispute,  buried  his  tomahawk  in  the  head 
of  their  charge. 

Dui'ing  this  montli,  ('luly,)  General  Barry  St.  Legcr 
marched  froni  Oswego,  with  nearly  two  thousand  whites 
and  Indians— the  latter  led  by  Thayendanegea — to  the 
investiture  of  1^'ort  Stanwix.  This  stronghold  of  the  i)ro- 
vincial  party  occu})ied  the  si)ot  where  Eomc  now  stands, 
in  Oneida  count}',  near  ihc  head-waters  of  the  Mohawk. 
The  post  was  afterwards  called  Fort  Schuyler.  The  forces 
of  St.  Leiicr  bi>set  the  fort  on  the  3d  of  August. 

The  most  interesting  event  connected  with  the  part 
taken  by  the  Indians  in  this  siege,  is  the  bloody  battle  of 
Oriskan3^  The  brave  old  soldier,  Genoi-al  Herkimer,  with 
from  eight  hundred  to  a  thousand  militia  and  volunteers, 
hastened  to  relievt)  the  garrison  as  soon  as  the  news  of  St. 
Lcger's  design  was  brought.  Unfortunateh',  the  Knglish 
connnander  obtaincnl  information  of  the  approach  of  rein- 
forcements in  snlhcient  season  to  prepare  an  ambuscade  at 
a  spot  the  most  disadvantageous  possible  for  the  advancing 
troops.  ^Vllero  a  marshy  raviiu-,  over  which  the  path  of 
the  American  army  was  carried  by  a  causeway,  partially 
inclosed  a  dry  and  l(>vel  tract,  iJrant  and  his  warritu-.-.,  with 
a  body  of  Knglish  troops,  lay  concealed.  Befu'c  Ilei-kimer 
and  his  men  were  aware  of  danger,  the  main  portion  of 
tlu'ir  number  was  completely  surromided,  and  cut  olf  from 
the  baggage  an!  rear-guard. 

Bn^ken  and  JisoiHu'ivd  by  the  murderous  and  unex- 
pected lire  of  the  enemy,  the  Americans  met  with  terrible 


>  ■ ; 


■■i.m 


3 


■'■■■•J.''.i'S.v::'  ''i.u?A 


,/1      ,'      ''■  ■ 
■   ■■      I  '        i  ■ 


■\   ■■■■•cl 


■^";;€ 


'.','^1 


'■■:'  ■■'>«<')rl 


•Jw 


,r:^W'Ji 


.1        *>>''«' 


^^'■^■y-'%' 


!;•  '.:  *'   ' 


V^.. 


812 


INDIAN  RACP:S  of  AMERICA. 


loss.  Retreat  was  out  of  the  question,  and  graduully,  en- 
couraged by  the  exhortations  of  tlicir  brave  commander, 
who,  althougli  severely  wounded,  sat  supported  Vjy  a  tree, 
coolly  issuing  his  orders,  they  formed  defensive  circles. 
Such  scenes  of  desperate  hand  to  hand  fighting  as  ensued 
have  seldom  been  recorded.  The  destruction  on  both 
sides  was  great,  more  than  two  hundred  of  the  Americans 
being  killed  on  the  spot.  Both  parties  laid  claim  to  a  vic- 
tory; but  it  appears  sufTiciently  certain  that  the  Indiaii.s 
were  dis])erscd,  while  the  provincial  militia  held  their 
ground.  The  purpose  of  the  advance  was,  indeed,  det'eated, 
except  so  far  as  it  gave  opportunity  for  a  successful  sally 
from  the  fort,  in  which  the  Bi'itish  were  driven  from  their 
encampment,  and  a  great  quantity  of  valuable  booty  was 
obtained. 

One  who  passed  the  sjiot  where  the  battle  of  Orislcatiy 
was  fought,  a  few  days  al'terwards,  writes:  "I  beheld  tlio 
most  shocking  sight  I  had  ever  Avitnessed.  The  Indians 
and  white  men  were  mingled  Avi^^^'  one  another,  just  us 
they  had  been  left  when  death  had  hrst  completed  liis 
work.  Many  bodies  had  also  been  torn  to  pieces  by  wild 
beasts."  The  veteran  commander  of  the  provincials  died 
in  consequence  of  the  wound  he  had  received.  The  loss 
experienced  by  the  Mohawks  and  others  of  the  Six 
Nations  who  took  pai't  in  the  engagement,  was  long  re- 
membered and  lamentetl  by  their  tribes. 

Notwithstanding  the  reverses  that  followed ;  the  discom- 
fiture of  the  English;  the  gmwing  jxjwer  and  conlidtMK'c 
of  the  Americans;  and  the  long  and  eloquent  appeal  of 
mingled  warning  and  conciliation  eonununicated  to  them 
by  Congress,  all  of  the  Six  Nations  exce])t  the  Oneidas 
and  the  Tuscaroras  remained,  at  the  elo.se  of  the  year,  last 
friends  of  the  king.  The  i)overty  of  the  colonies  prohili- 
ited  that  display  of  rewards  which  the  loyalists  could 
proffer,  and  constant  intimacy  enabled  the  politic  oflicers 


THE  IROQUOIS,  OR  SIX  NATIONS. 


313 


of  the  crown  to  sway  tlic  ignorant  minds  of  tliC  Indians, 
and  to  teach  them  to  look  upon  thciv  white  countiymen  as 
an  unprincipled  people,  engaged  in  a  hopeless  as  well  as 
causeless  rebellion. 


CHAPTER  V. 

CONTINUATION  OF  REVOLUTIONARY  INCIDKNTS. 

The  year  1778  ojiencd  unflvvorably  for  American  in- 
fluence over  tlie  border  savages.  Johnson  and  Butler, 
aided  hy  Joscj-h  Brant,  in  behalf  of  the  crown,  had  been 
unwearied  in  tluir  cflbrts  to  win  over  the  Indians  of  the 
west  to  their  master's  cause.  In  vain  was  a  council  called 
by  the  provincial  congress  for  the  ].)ur})osc  of  making  one 
more  eflbrt  to  induce  the  Six  Nations  to  adopt  a  neutral 
policy.  An  iiK\)mi)letc  deputation,  from  all  tlie  tribes 
except  the  Senecas,  did  indeed  assemble  at  Johnstown,  in 
Tryon  county,  during  the  month  of  March,  the  result  of 
which  meeting  only  strengthened  the  conviction  that  noth- 
ing but  enmity  was  to  be  looked  for  on  the  part  of  the 
great  body  of  tlie  nation.  Inhere  was  too  great  reason  to 
fear  that  the  Indians  of  the  far  west  vau'c  successfully 
dealt  with  by  emissaries  on  the  p:\rt  of  the  loyalists. 

Brant  returned  to  his  old  (piarters  at  Oghkwaga,  and  its 
vicinity,  and  lent  himself  lu^art  and  soul  to  the  work  of 
harassing  and  plundering  the  colonists.  Although,  as 
the  chief  of  his  nation,  no  small  portion  of  the  enormities 
connnitted  by  the  Iiidian  predatoi'v  bands,  was  attril)uted 
to  his  dire(;t  influence,  it  is  due  to  Brant  to  say,  that  few 
among  his  companions-in-arms  showed  an  equal  regard  for 
the  laws  of  humanity.  Many  an  instance  is  recorded  of 
his  interference,  even  in  the  Jieat  of  conflict,  to  stay  the 
hand  ui)lifted  against  the  feeble  and  helpless^     He  was,  it 


C«fv.»!| 


S   .'v  ,' ' 

III 

1^ 

» 


1  ::;i-J 


tit 


.r< 


"'-''',r 


><v' ,:- 


1'^ 


'It 


i^'''-^<    <;■ 


8U 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMKIUCA. 


is  true,  a  fierce  partisan  warrior,  ami,  in  one  of  liis  letters, 
avowed  liis  intent  to  "figlit  the  cruel  rebeH,"  as  well  as  ho 
could;  but  he  seldom,  if  ever,  evinced  that  savage  erueltv 
towards  a  con(|uered  foe  which  disgraced  his  Indian  and 
white  associates. 

"While  the  war  lasted,  there  wa.s  no  rest  or  safety  for  the 
inhahitants  of  that  extensive  district  bordering  on  tlie 
enemies'  country—from  Saratoga,  south-westward  to  the 
Susquehanna.  Brant  commenced  o])erations  in  person,  by 
an  attack  on  Springfield,  a  small  place  at  the  head  of  Ot- 
sego lake.  lie  drove  oft'  or  took  })risoucrs  all  the  men,  and 
assembling  the  women  and  children  for  safety,  burned  all 
the  town  exce[)t  the  house  where  they  were  collected,  lie 
tlien  retired,  offering  them  no  injury. 

Ill  tlie  latter  part  of  June,  a  d(\sceiit  was  planned  upon 
the  settlements  in  the  valley  of  Wyoriiing,  upon  the  Sus- 
quehanna, in  the  north-eastern  ^"^I't  of  Pennsylvania. 
Some  three  hundred  British  regulars  and  tory  volmili'cis. 
accompanied  by  about  five  hundi'cd  of  their  Indian  allies, 
marelu'd  Irom  Niagara.  They  were  led  by  Colonel  John 
Butler.  It  has  been  a  commonly  received  opinion  that 
Brant  was  the  chief  under  whom  the  Indian  jiortion  of  the 
army  was  mustered,  but  it  i.^  now  ludieved  that  he  had  as  lit- 
tle share  in  this  campaign  as  in  man}'  other  scenes  ttf  blniul 
long  coupled  with  his  name.  There  is  no  proof  that  he  wa.s 
present  at  any  of  the  .seeiies  that  we  are  about  to  relate. 

Ko  portion  of  the  whole  history  of  the  revolution  has 
been  so  distorted  in  the  narration  as  that  connected  with 
the  la^ying  waste  of  the  valley  of  Wyoming.  Xo  two  ac- 
counts seem  to  agree,  and  hi.storians  have  striven  to  out-do 
each  other  in  the  violence  of  their  expressions  of  indigna- 
tion, at  cruelties  and  horrors  which  existt'd  only  in  their 
own  imaginations,  or  which  came  to  them  embellished 
with  all  the  exaggeration  incident  to  reports  arising  amid 
scenes  of  excitement  and  bloodshed. 


bitten 
cut  gr 
Avarlik 
ducted 
A\'as  frc 
ceil  dan 
were  <? 
tution. 
actions, 
feel  in  g> 
neiglibi 
had  e.s])( 
As  J( 
ern  por 
lian.ia  i 
made  tli 
va.sion. 
compair 
three  hi 
niareli(!( 
dispei-se 
by  sur]>i 
but  the 
vancing 
ready  to 
the  rivei 
inountaii 
warriors 
the  swan 

Tiie 
provinei; 
comnuuu 
ing  that 
throu'di 

O 


liri  lettovs, 
well  us  lio 
gc  cruelty 
uditui  und   ' 

retyfortlie 
lie-  on  the 
■M'd  to  tlic 
pevrtoii,  by 
io;i«l  or  Ot- 
ic nu'u,  ami 
I  l)\inic(l  all 
.Iccted.    lie 


am  led  n})ou 

)OU  tlic  Sus- 

L'uiisylvaiiia. 

vi)luut('('vs. 

ndian  allies, 

olonel  -IdIiu 

opinion  that 

lortlon  of  the 

lieluidasllt- 

OIK'S  (il'lili»»l 

f  that  lie  was 
t  to  relate, 
volntlou  has 
mieeted  with 
Xo  two  ae- 
vcu  to  out-do 
IS  of  indigna- 
only  in  their 
embellished 
arising  amid 


THE  IROQUOIS,  OR  SIX  NATIONS. 


315 


"Wyoming  had,  for  many  years,  been  the  scene  of  the 
bitterest  liostility  between  tlie  settlers  under  the  Connecti- 
cut grunt  and  those  from  Pennsylvania.  Although  these 
Avurlike  operations  -vvere  upon  a  small  scale,  they  were  con- 
ducted with  great  vindietivencss  and  treachery.  Blood 
was  frequently  shed;  and,  as  either  party  obtained  the  as- 
cendancy, small  favor  wus  shown  to  their  opponents,  who 
wei'c  generuUy  driven  froni  their  homes  in  hopeless  desti- 
tution. \Vc  cannot  go  into  a  history  of  these  early  trans- 
actions, and  only  mention  them  as  explanatory  of  the 
feehngs  of  savage  animosity  Avhich  were  exhibited  between 
neighbors,  and  even  members  of  the  same  families,  who 
hail  es])ouscd  ojiposite  interests  in  the  revolutionary  contest. 

As  John  Butler  and  his  forces  entered  the  north-west- 
ern portion  of  the  valley,  having  descended  the  busipie- 
liauiia  upon  rafts,  the  inhabitants  of  the  several  towns 
nuuli^  the  best  pre])aratioHS  in  their  power  to  resist  the  in- 
viision.  Colonel  Zebulou  Butler  was  in  command  of  a 
company  of  regidar  continental  troojis,  and  with  about 
three  hundred  of  the  militia,  ccdlectcd  hi  the  valley,  he 
marched  on  the  3d  of  J  uly,  to  check  an  1,  if  possible, 
disperse  the  invaders.  It  was  intended  to  take  the  enemy 
hy  surprise  at  their  encampment,  (ut  Fort  AVintermoot,) 
but  the  vigilance  of  the  Indian  sentinels  betrayed  the  ad- 
vancing forces.  They  found  the  royalists  drawn  uj),  and 
ready  to  give  them  buttle.  Their  line  was  extended  from 
the  river,  on  their  left,  to  a  nuirsh,  beyond  which  rose  the 
mountain  range  which  bounded  the  valley.  The  Indian 
warriors  were  stationed  at  the  right  by  the  borders  of 
the  sw^amp. 

The  wliole  line  was  sinurltaneously  attacked  by  the 
provincials,  as  they  came  up.  Colonel  Dennison,  wdio 
commanded  the  left  wing  of  the  American  army,  perceiv- 
ing that  a  strong  body  of  the  Indians  had  forced  their  way 
throu'di  the  marsh,  and  were  about  to  attack  him  in  the 


'It-  <:i 

1  J 


i         \        i  ■  >  '  •.,*■'  it 


■.;^-.<>«s 


!'?V 


■m 


1 1 


"A?D': 


'M 


^ 


,is'i»V 


!  f; : 


, ,  1,.'!-  «';{t 


t  ■     ■  ;* 


316 


INDIAN  HACKS  OF  AMKUK'A. 


■■Jry'-\ 


■'.  •♦-  ■ 


roar,  gave  an  order  to  full  back,  that  his  troops  might  not 
be  surroundod.  This  command  Avas  mistakcMi  for  an  order 
to  retreat,  and  the  result  was  a  complete  rout  and  a  disor- 
derly flight.  The  Indians,  now  completely  in  thoir  ele- 
ment, fell  upon  the  hel[)less  stragglers  with  tomahawk  and 
knife.  About  fifty  of  the  Americans  arc  said  to  have 
escaped  by  swimming  the  river,  or  by  clamViering  the 
mountains,  and  concealing  themselves  in  the  forest:  the 
rest  all  perished  u})on  the  held. 

Most  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  valley  songlit  safety  from 
the  victorious  army  in  flight.  Those  who  remained  be- 
took themselves  to  Fort  Wyoming.  On  the  next  day,  July 
4th,  the  l^ritish  colonel  approached  the  fort,  and  demanded 
an  unconditional  surrender.  A  ca})itulati()n  was  fuiallv 
agreed  upon,  by  the  terms  of  which  the  occupiers  of  lands 
in  the  valley  were  to  be  protected  in  the  peaceable  enjoy- 
H'.'Mit  of  their  property.  Colonel  Zebulon  Butler  and  the 
remnant  of  his  regulars  had  made  their  escape,  and  it  was 
agreetl,  by  the  officer  remaining  in  command,  that  tlir 
foil  should  be  demolished  'J'he  result,  however,  was  the 
almost  entire  destruction  of  the  Ec**lement.  The  rapacity 
of  the  undisciplined  Indian  forces,  tempted  by  the  oppor- 
tunity lor  plunder,  could  not  be  restrained;  and  the  lou^- 
cherished  rancour  of  partisan  enmity  between  fellow-coun- 
trymen had  full  opportunity  to  satiate  itself. 

The  rich  and  highly-cultivated  farms  were  laiil  waste, 
and  their  unfortunate  jiroprit'tors,  flying  from  their  burn- 
ing homes,  were  reduced  to  the  greatest  extremities.  Many 
are  said  to  have  perished  in  the  wilderness,  whither  they 
had  fle<l  for  safety.  From  the  talcs  of  the  wretched  ont- 
casts  who  were  dispersed  over  the  country,  as  publisluil 
at  the  time,  many  incidents  have  been  copied  into  modern 
histories,  which  Ave  knoAV  to  be  false  or  grossly  exagger- 
ated. War  is  every  Avay  an  enormous  evil,  and  Avhen 
carried  on  by  an  ignorant  and  barbarous  people,  to  Avhoni 


'I 


■•V;^  >■''.•" 


the  ref 

must  i; 
but  at 
est  atni 
!   We  Avil 
of  the  1 
fugitive 
One  of 
mont,  re 
flilling  i; 
greeting 
recoi'dcd 
but  you 
.'itely  lev 
At  the 
source  oi 
dej)redati 
tlu'ivin>f  J 
wdWrs 
notice  o 
ueighbo 
tlieir  JKji 
plunder 
invasion 
Oghkwi 
lent  therr 

:     Oil'soUK 

^vasmade 

rogiment, 

^vaga,  aiu 

and  destr 

I'l'ovi.sion 

The  In( 

and  it  was 

prompt  ex 


IL!' 


— ''■  TT'' 


THE  IKOQUOIS,  Oil  SIX  NATIONS. 


317 


the  refinements  of  so-called  civilized  warfare  arc  unknown, 
must  necessarily  involve  scenes  of  terror  and  desolation; 
but  at  the  time  of  which  wc  arc  now  speaking,  the  great- 
est atrocities  ajipear  to  have  l)een  committed  by  whites. 
Wc  will  give  a  single  incident  as  illustnitive  of  the  spirit 
of  the  times.  Several  of  the  loyalists  had  pursued  some 
fugitives  of  the  provincial  militia  to  an  island  in  the  river. 
One  of  these  being  ferreted  out  from  his  })lace  of  eonceal- 
iiuMit,  recogni/ed  liis  own  brother  among  the  cncnay,  and, 
fulling  n})on  his  knees,  begged  humbly  ibr  his  life.  The 
greeting  and  response  of  the  unnatural  broth(!r  arc  thus 
recorded:  "So  it  is  you,  is  it?" — "All  this  is  mighty  line, 
but  you  arc  a  danmcd  rebel." — Saying  which,  he  deliber- 
ately levelled  his  rifle,  and  shot  him  dead  u})on  tlie  spctt." 

At  the  north,  Brant  and  liis  Indians  continued  to  be  a 
source  of  terror  and  annoyance.  Ucsides  many  minor 
depredations,  they  burned  and  plundered  the  rich  and 
thriving  settlement  of  the  German  h'latts,  njion  the  n])[)er 
waters  of  the  Mohawk.  The  inhabitants  had  sulUcient 
notice  of  the  attack  to  be  able  to  secure  then. selves  in  the 
neighboring  forts,  but  they  could  do  nothing  to  i)reserve 
their  homes,  or  to  save  the  fruits  of  a  summer's  toil  from 
plunder  or  destruction.  This  injury  was  retaliated  by  the 
invasion  of  the  noted  establishments  of  the  Indian  chief  at 
Oghkwaga  and  Tnadilla.  A  party  of  friendly  Oneidas 
lent  themselves  to  this  service,  and  succeeded  in  bringing 
off  some  booty  and  prisoners.  A  more  important  inroad 
was  made  by  Colonel  William  Butler,  with  a  Pennsylvania 
regiment.  lie  entered  the  towns  of  Unadilla  and  Oghk- 
waga, and,  finding  them  deserted  by  the  Indians,  burned 
and  destroyed  the  biiildings,  together  with  large  stores  of 
provision  intended  for  winter  use. 

The  Indians  were  greatly  cxasjierated  at  this  heavy  loss, 
and  it  was  not  difficult  for  the  English  to  excite  them  to 
prompt  exertions  for  revenge.     The  Scnccas  were  discov- 


'■;■:.  yam 


■V .: 


.'';! 


*  V.i 

l-iV 

''^'■A'y  -.',6:4 ^--'i 


I 

IS  . 

If 


318 


IIVDIAN  RACKS  OF  AMEUICA. 


erod  to  bo  in  arms,  and  assuming  .1  hostile  attitude  very 
sliortly  after  these  events;  and  one  of  their  eliief's,  "Tlie 
Givat  I'ree,"  who  liad  been  siieudiiig  tlie  summer  with  tlu^ 
Amerieans,  and  had  associated  during  that  time  iijioii 
friendly  terms  with  General  Washingtcni,  had  now  re- 
turned to  his  j)eo})le  with  altered  demeanor  and  purposes, 
lieportshad  been  eireulated  among  the  Indians  of  this  and 
other  tribes  that  tIic  Amerieans  were  plauuiii;^  an  invasion 
of  tlieir  country . 

Early  in  Novend:<cr,  (177i"i,)the  younger  Butler,  AValtor, 
led  a  force  of  seven  hundred  men  IVom  Niagara  to  attack 
the  settlement  at  Cherry- ValK'v.  The  majority  oi'  ihc 
party  consisted  ,1  Indians  under  the  command  of  'riiayeii- 
danegea.  The  pl.Kie  of  their  destination,  a  beautiful  and 
prosperous  village,  not  Qir  from  Otsego  lake,  was  det'ended 
by  afortillcation  garrisoned  by  imojis  under  Colonel  h'li- 
abod  Alden.  The  eonunander  received  intiinatinn,  Iriini 
an  Oneida  messenger,  of  the  dangei-ous  position  of  tic 
})laee,  but,  being  incredulous,  or  supposing  that  theiv  wa.s 
abundance  of  time  for  pre])uration,  lie  was  in  no  eonditioii 
for  resistance  when  the  blow  fell.  The  inhabitants,  instcail 
of  seeking  the  protection  of  the  fort,  were  scattered  among 
their  several  liabitations. 

The  Indian  savages  made  the  first  onslaught,  and,  tlirow- 
ing  aside  all  restraint,  massacred  men,  women  and  clMldren 
indiscriminately.  ]\[anv  of  the  tories  belongiiiL;-  to  tlio 
jiarty  are  said  to  have  shown  a  si)irit  of  ferocitv  etiual  to 
that  of  the  worst  of  barbarians.  The  ofHcer  in  eomniaiid, 
AValter  N.  Butler,  repeatedly  asserted,  in  aft(>r  communi- 
cations, that  he  used  his  best  endeavors  to  stay  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  heli)less  children  and  females,  and  there  is  no 
doubt  but  that  Ib-ant's  inclinations  turned  in  the  same 
direction.  Speeilic  instances  arc  reported  in  which  the 
^[tdiawk  chief  interfered,  and  successfully,  to  arrest  the 
murderous  tomahawk.     According  to  their  account,  the 


II  invasion 


(r 


THE  IKOQUOIS,  OH  f<lX  NATIONS. 


819 


Indians  were  cxasiicrntcd  iit  tlieir  losses  at  Oglikwiijia 
and  Unadillii,  and,  beconiini,^  heated  witli  tlio  exciti'nii'nt 
of  the  attack,  wciv  in  cDinplete  disorder,  and  in  no  degree 
amenable  to  diseipline.  Wherever  tlic  Llanie  la}',  the 
result  was  terrible:  about  lii'ty  soldiers  and  inhabitants 
fell  by  the  tomahawk,  among  the  latter  of  whom  the  larger 
portion  consisLod  of  women  and  children.  'J'he  whole 
village  was  burned  to  the  ground,  and  the  rich  stores  of 
jirovisions  were  destroyed.  Thirty  or  foi'ty  })risoners  were 
taken,  but  of  these,  the  women  and  children,  with  a  few 
cxee})tions,  were  shortly  after  set  at  liberty,  as  unable  to 
cndinx',  the  march. 

yivs.  Campbell,  one  of  those  who  Avas  retained  as  a 
hostage,  because  of  the  prominent  part  taken  by  her  hus- 
band in  the  American  cause,  has  given  very  interesting 
(les(''riptions  of  Indian  ceremonies  and  manner  of  life. 

Tin'  Onondagas,  throughout  these  campaigns,  while,  as 
A  tribe,  tliey  did  not  o])enly  ]>rofess  themselves  inimieal  to 
the  Americans,  were  individually  concerned  in  no  small 
number  of  the  forays  and  scalping  expeditions  whereby 
the  border  country  was  harassed.  In  April,  of  177!),  it 
was  determined  to  destrtn'  their  settlements,  and  C'oluiud 
Van  Schaick,  with  a  sullicient  force,  was  desj)atched  for 
till!  purpose,  lie  was  ordered  utterly  to  lay  waste  the 
whole  of  their  towns;  to  destroy  all  their  cattle  ami  pi'o- 
pcrty;  and  to  take  as  many  prisoners  as  possible,  lie 
(lid  not  succeed  in  surprising  the  Indians,  as  he  had  pur- 
posed; their  scouts  carried  intelligence  of  his  advanet>  in 
season  for  most  of  them  to  escape  to  the  woods;  but  tlieir 
improvements  and  dwellings  were  left  undefended,  at  the 
nicrey  of  the  assailants.  Tlie  colonel  obeyed  his  oi'ders  to 
the  letter,  and  left  nothing  but  blackened  ruins  behind 
him  in  his  progress  through  the  Indian  villages.  The 
dwellings,  the  horses,  cattle,  and  stored  provisions  of  tlio 
unfortunate  tribe  were  all  destroved,  and  th'.;  Americans 


^ 


if 


^ 

W^^SS 

il  f\ 

■:'%"ii 

i 

IP 

iff*' 

',"'',!>> 

' 

■■■•*,(  t'^ 

t 

':n 

'  ■'■'  '^'k 

'\tiM 

;'■•.•  'itui 

■- 

'''■'M 

'  V-"<^^ 

/'" '\ 


•A 

1 

"41 

■ 

1  . 

i\ 

•; 

V  r,:''^'i 


.  ■  '.■:  h'?] 


'  ^M 

»    ,             ■  •     'l 

,■•'"      •■;•'.<■:' 

.';.  p 

■■     J;    1 


820 


INDIAN   HACKS  UF  AMKIUCA. 


returiKMl  to  their  ([imrtiTs,  without  the  loss  of  a  niaii, 
taking  with  thoiu  tliirty-tlifci!  prisoiioiu  About  twelve 
of  the  ()uon(la,<2a.s  wen;  kilU'd  duriiijj;  the  exjuvlitioii. 

The  IViemlly  Oiieiihis  were  ek).sely  eouueeleil  with  this 
tribe,  and  they  felt  a'ul  expressed  a  natural  sympathy  with 
their  inislbrtunes.  'I  m'  Oiiondanas  were  <freatly  exasper- 
ated, and  their  war-parties  continued  to  hover  around  tlir 
lK)rder  settlements,  ever  re:'..iy  to  take  advantage  ol'  any 
unwariness  on  the  ])art  oftlie  \,hites. 

In  the  months  olMuly  and  iVugust,  of  this  year,  (1771',) 
Brant  signalized  himselt'bv  various  sueeessful  expeditions. 
He  ])luntlered  and  destroyed  the  little  towii  of  Minisink, 
near  the  Delaware  river,  in  Orange  county.  New  York,  and 
defeated  a  body  of  the  militia  who  undertook  to  follow  his 
trail,  in  hojx's  of  reeovering  tlie  booty  he  had  secured, 
and  of  avenging  the  ruin  In-  had  caused.  Some  interesting 
incidents  aiv  recorded  as  coniiecttHl  with  this  battle.  So 
skillfully  did  the  ^b)hawk  I'liicf  aiiticijiatc  and  oppose  tlir 
movements  of  his  pursuers,  tiuit  lie  seeuivil  an  advant;i;:c 
ill  ])osition  which  gave  him  a  signal  victory.  A  large 
pro])ortion  of  the  whites  were  slain.  We  are  told  that, 
after  the  battle,  Brant  .«aw  a  woundi'd  olliccr  lying  upon 
the  lield,  in  a  hopeless  coii(lilii>ii,  t)Ut  retaining  sudicieiit 
strength  to  converse.  I'uwilling  to  leave  the  unfortunate 
man  to  be  torn  in  pieces  by  wolves,  who  would  be  sure  to 
collect  as  night  eaiMi3  <iii,  lie  determined,  from  nu)tives  of 
hunuuiity,  to  ilispatch  hi;:'.  He  tliereforc  conunenccil  a 
conversation  wilh  hu.i,  and,  watching  his  op])ortunitv, 
])Ut  an  end  to  his  suni'iings  unawares,  by  a  blow  of  tliu 
tomahawk. 

On  this,  as  on  mo.st  otlier  occasions  in  wliich  the  Mo- 
hawk ehii'f  was  engagcil  in  active  hostilities,  the  most 
contradictory  reports  have  been  recoi'ded  concerning  his 
conduct  and  demeanor.  The  leader  is  generally  compelled 
to  bear  the  blame  of  all  the  exees.ses  eoJVi.iHcd  by  liis 


f()lIoVV 

to  dec 
circuni 


oenb; 
.s 

Willi 

transpiri 
able  iiiv 
atteinj)tc 
certain  h 
wius  deei 
I  lest  rue  ti 
J'ursuaui 
'•liici;   (i, 
■spring  ol 
I'liemies' 
tlicir  tow 
;!■•<  many 
'lie  eneni 
''xpedifii. 
'iirected 
''cniisyK' 
'!>rccs  at 
'letaelunc 
listing  of 
"11  tlie  M 
''^'i.'^fpiehal 
^nth  tlieni 
'lesceud  tJ 
21 


'.-..>   '•■• 


f  a  innii, 
lit  twclvo 
lion. 

witU  this 
)atliy  willi    j 
y  cxasiu'v-    I 
iron  ml  tin- 
.vgc  ul'  any    j 

car,  (ITT'j;) 
xpi'tlitiuns.    ; 
r  Mini/nik, 
,-  V()rl<,  ami 
,o  I'oUowliis   I 
m\  scfiirt'd, 
L>  interest iii.L' 

battle.  So 
1  (nniose  tlu' 
n  advanta^ro 
y.     A  lai'iic 

.,>  told  that, 

lying  iil""> 
yjr  s\UVaaeiit 

iiiil'ortunatc 
(1  be  sure  tu 
I  motives  nl 
.iiiiueneeil  a 
(.|)l)ortnnity, 
I  Mow  ol'tlie 

liieli  the  Mo- 
tirs,  the  most 
mcerning  his 
lillv  conijH'lW 
jttcd  by  hi= 


TiiK  iiiogrois,  oil  SIX  N.vnoNrf. 


021 


followers,  and  it  is  no  cany  ta.sk,  at  tliis  distance  of  time, 
to  decide  upon  the  truth  of  many  tales  reported  under 
circuuKstunecs  uf  coid'usion  and  excitement. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

GENEnAI.    .Stn.MVAN's   CAMI'AIU.V    AGAINST   THE    inOlJtrOIS — 
SUHSElillENT  WAUr-IKK  OPEKATIONS  OK  THE   NATION. 

WiriiiK  the  events  wliicli  wc  have  just  described  were 
trans[)irinL'',  i>re])arations  were  going  on  for  a  more  formid- 
able invasion  of  the  Indian  territory  than  had  before  been 
attempted  by  the  Americans.  The  annoyance  of  an  un- 
certain border  warfare  had  become  so  intolerable  tliat  it 
was  deemed  necc.s.sary  to  put  a  stop  to  it  by  the  entire 
tlcstruetion  of  the  Tnupu^is  tt)\v'ns  and  settlements.  In 
piu'suanee  of  a  resolution  of  Congress,  the  commander-in- 
chief,  Cieneral  Washington,  made  arrangements,  in  the 
spring  of  1779,  to  send  a  large  force  into  the  heart  of  the 
ciK'inie.s'  country,  with  directions  to  burn  and  destroy  all 
their  towns;  to  lay  waste  their  ilelds  and  orchard.^,  to  take 
as  many  i)risoners  as  practicable;  and,  in  a  word,  to  do 
the  enemy  all  the  injury  i)ossible.  The  eonnnand  of  the 
expedition  was  bestowed  n]H)n  (ieneral  Sullivan,  who  was 
ilireeted  to  ascend  ihe  Susrpiehanmi,  with  troo])S  from 
IVmisylvania,  and  to  I'onn  a  junction  with  the  northern 
forces  at  Tioga,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Chcnunig.  The 
ilctachmcnt  from  the  north,  under  Cieneral  Clinton,  con- 
sisting of  Jllteen  hundred  men,  marched  from  Canajoharie, 
tin  the  Mohawk,  for  Otsego  Lake,  (from  which  llow.s  the 
Susquehanna)  about  the  middle  of  June.  They  carried 
with  them,  over-land,  two  hundred  battcaux,  in  which  to 
tlesccud  the  river  to  Tioga. 
21 


I 


n 


■■•'•::Lt!" 


M:b\ 


■         -.11;  (!■*»«     , 

'-4 


322 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMEllICA. 


r  .'■•/' 


It  was  intended  tliiit  Clinton  slionlu  take  with  him  a 
body  of  Oneida  warriors,  but  this  purpose  was  frustrated 
by  tlie  efforts  of  General  Haklimand,  on  behalf  of  the  king 
of  Great  Britain.  This  officer  sent  a  letter,  written  in  their 
own  tongue,  to  the  Oneidas,  upbraiding  thcni  with  the 
breach  of  ancient  treaties,  and  threatening,  if  they  pre- 
sumed to  engage  in  open  warfare  against  the  royalists,  to 
let  loose  iipon  them  sueli  a  horde  of  his  Indian  allies  as 
should  utterly  destroy  thein.  The  effect  of  this  epistlo 
was  to  keep  the  Oneida  warriors,  with  very  few  exceptions, 
at  home,  that  they  might  be  in  readiness  to  guard  their 
families  and  homi^steads  from  the  threatened  invasion. 

Owing  to  dei.^ys  at  the  s(juth,  Clinton  did  not  receive 
orders  to  remove  from  Otsego  until  August.  lie  had,  in  the 
mean  time,  dammed  the  outlet  of  the  lake,  so  that  a  gieat 
body  of  water  had  accumvdiited.  When  his  troojis  were 
embarked,  the  obstruction  was  removed,  and,  aide(l  by 
the  unusiial  flow,  the  flotilla  swept  rapidly  and  smootlily 
down  the  stream.  On  the  22d  of  August  the  meeting  at 
Tioga  was  effected.  Five  thousand  men,  well  anned  ami 
provisioned,  were  now  concentrated,  and  ready  to  pour 
upon  the  devoted  towns  of  the  hostile  Iroquois, 

The  attempt  to  keep  the  expedition  a  secret  fi'om  tlie 
enemy  would  have  been  utterly  useless,  from  the  length 
of  time  required  for  the  preparatory  movements,  'fhi; 
campaign  was  anticipated,  but  no  adequate  force  was  ])io- 
vided  to  resist  the  American  army.  The  only  battle  whicli 
took  place  was  at  Newtown  on  the  baidc  of  the  Chenunig, 
near  the  present  town  of  Klmira.  Here  a  force,  variously 
estimated  at  fro;n  eight  to  fifteen  hundred,  and  eonsistini:' 
of  Indians  under  Thayendanegca,  and  whites  commandcil 
by  the  two  Butlers,  and  by  Sir  John  and  Guy  Johnson, 
was  advantageously  intrenched. 

A  brave  and  oljstinatc  resistance  was  made  to  the  ad- 
vance of  the  Americans,  but  supei'ior  nund)ers  pi-evailed. 


and  tlie 
conside 
portanc 
and  des 
Sull.ivai 
the  well 
federate 
tribes  h; 
I  fion.    Tl 
times  of 
ticularly 
vate  tliei 
their  Cor 
fruit-tree 
tions,  but 
niovemei: 
i^low,  and 
operation 
to  the  wo^ 
est  i-age  ai 
ren(h'red 
nuist  ove 
^vlio  must 
Tlie  w 
of  destruc 
of  N(nvt( 
of  Seiict 
tou-n  of 
which  w; 
'M'om   Su 
tained  one 
and  very 
circled  w 
over  whic 
with  everi 


nJl 


'1\ 


%:\ 


THE  IKOQUOIS,  OR  SIX  NATIONS. 


323 


and  the  enemy  was  driven  across  the  river,  after  suffering 
considerable  loss.  This  was  the  oidy  attempt  of  any  im- 
portance that  was  made  to  defend  the  country  from  ravage 
and  destruction.  Pursuing  his  course  westward,  General 
Sullivan  obeyed  his  orders  to  the  letter.  Every  where 
the  well-built  towns  and  flourishing  corn-fields  of  tlie  con- 
federate nations  were  reduced  to  utter  ruin.  These  Indian 
tribes  had  made  no  little  advance  in  the  arts  of  civili/ca- 
tion.  The  Mohawks  had  rnostly  fled  to  Canada  in  the  early 
times  of  the  revolution,  but  others  of  the  Iroqiiois,  jiar- 
ticularly  the  Cayugasand  Senecas,  had  continued  to  culti- 
vate their  fields  and  maintain  possession  of  the  homes  of 
tlioir  forefatliers.  Immense  orchards  (>f  apj)le  and  other 
fruit-trees  were  growing  luxuriantly  around  their  habita- 
tions, but  all  fell  beneath  the  axe  of  the  destroyers.  Tlae 
movement  of  so  large  a  body  of  troops  was  necessarily 
slow,  and  as  no  precautions  were  taken  to  conceal  their 
operations,  the  Indians  were  every  where  enabled  to  escape 
to  the  woods.  It  must  have  been  with  feelings  of  the  bitter- 
est rage  and  despair  that  they  saw  the  labor  of  so  many  years 
rendered  useless,  and  thought  of  the  coming  winter,  which 
must  overtake  tliem,  a  wandering  and  destitute  people, 
wlio  must  perish,  or  rely  for  aid  upon  their  Canadian  allies. 
Tlie  whole  moiitli  of  September  was  spcMit  in  the  work 
of  destruction.  The  course  of  tlie  march,  after  the  battle 
of  Newtown,  was  first  to  Catharine's  Town,  near  the  head 
of  Seneca  lake;  thence  to  Kanadaseagea,  the  principal 
town  of  the  Senecas;  to  Canandagua;  and  to  Genesee, 
Avhich  was  the  farthest  point  reached  at  the  westward. 
From  Sullivan's  account:  "The  town  cf  Genesee  con- 
tained one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  houses,  nuwtly  large 
and  very  elegant.  It  was  beautilully  situatetl,  almost  en- 
circled with  a  c^lear  fiatt  extending  a  number  of  miles; 
over  which,  extensive  fields  of  corn  were  waving,  together 
with  every  kind  of  vegetable  that  could  be  conceived." 


'  1 1. 


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S'^4 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


■'The  entire  army,"  says  Stone,  "  was  immediately  en- 
gaged in  destroying  it,  and  the  axe  and  the  torch  soon 
transformed  the  whole  of  that  beautiful  region  from  the 
character  of  a  garden  to  a  scene  of  drear  and  sickeniu"- 
desolation.  Forty  Indian  towns  were  destroyed.  Corn, 
gathered  and  ungathered,  to  'Sao  amount  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  thousand  bushels,  shared  the  same  fate;  their 
fruit-trees  were  cut  down ;  and  the  Indians  were  hunted 
like  wild  beasts,  till  neiilier  house,  nor  fruit-tree,  nor  field 
of  corn,  nor  inhabitant,  remained  in  the  whole  country." 

In  a  suffering  and  destitute  condition,  the  scattered  tribes 
of  the  Iroquois  were  driven  to  seek  protection  and  snp- 
{)ort  during  the  hard  winter  that  suceeedt^d  their  overthruw 
from  the  English  at  their  posts  in  the  vicinity  of  Niagara. 
Nothing  could  now  be  ex])ected  at  their  hands,  by  the 
Americans,  but  acts  of  vindictive  retaliation.  Brant  led 
his  warriors,  in  pursuance  of  Ilahlimand's  ominous  predic- 
tion, against  the  .settlements  of  the  Oneidas,  and  reduceil 
them  to  a  condition  as  desohite  as  that  of  tlie  habitations 
of  his  allies.  The  whole  tribe  was  coinpc'lled  to  llv  to  the 
eastward,  and  seek  shelter  and  suppoit  from  the  jiruvincials. 

Thayendanegea  was  ever  ready  and  watchful  for  oppor- 
tunity to  harass  and  weaken  tlie  American  posts,  or  lo 
jilunder  their  unprotected  villages.  Passing  ovei-  Lis 
minor  exploits  and  ailventures,  ol'  which  nniny  sti'ikingly 
characteristic  anecdotes  are  preserved,  we  ciime  to  lii.s 
irruption  into  the  MohaAvk  valltn',  in  August  of  1780. 
He  managed,  at  this  time,  to  eireulate  a  report  among  the 
settlers  in  the  valley,  that  he  was  meditating  an  attack 
upon  Forts  Plain  and  Schuyler,  ibr  the  purpo.se  of  glutting 
pos.session  of  the  stores  collected  at  those  posts.  The  mil- 
itia of  the  vabey  hastened  to  defend  the  threatened  jjoints, 
leaving  their  villages  u  prey  to  the  cunning  Mohawk.  Ho 
carefully  avoided  tlie  reinforcementi:  on  their  way  to  the 
forts,  and  fell  u})on  Canajoharie. 


L!: 


THE  IROQUOIS,  Oil  SIX  NATIONS. 


825 


His  course  was  niiivked  by  tlie  (,'iitire  destruction  of 
houses,  provisions,  and  crops;  of  every  thing  indeed  that 
could  not  be  proritid)ly  carried  away.  No  barbarities  were 
permitted  upon  the  persons  of  the  defenceless  women  and 
children,  but  a  large  number  of  them  were  borne  away 
into  captivity,  lirant  elleeted  his  retreat  unmolested; 
his  men  hulen  with  [)lunder,  and  driving  before  them  the 
Viduable  herds  of  the  white  settlers.  Aceovmts,  published 
shortly  after  the  transaction,  represent  that  the  whole  num- 
ber of  houses  and  barns  burnt  in  this  invasion,  at  Cana- 
joharic,  Schoharie,  and  Norman's  Kill,  Avas  one  hundred 
and  forty;  and  that  tv.'cnty-four  persons  were  killed,  and 
seventy-three  made  captives.  The  miiid  is  little  impress- 
ed by  such  bare  enuUiCration,  unless  the  imagination  be 
excited  to  lill  np  the  outline.  No  language  could  express 
tlic  amount  of  misery  and  terrible  anxit'ty  which  such  an 
iiu'oad  must  have  caused.  To  the  distrai'ting  uncertainty 
respecting  the  fite  of  their  wives  and  children,  prisoners 
ill  the  hands  of  a  barbarous  and  exasperated  enemy,  was 
added  the  mortification  of  a  consciousness,  on  the  part  of 
the  provincial  militia,  that  lh(>y  had  been  duj)ed.  "^^rhey 
hud  left  their  (h'fenccless  luMnes  to  be  ravaged  by  the 
eiK'iiiy,  while  they  were  busying  themselves  in  the  defence 
of  a  ibitilied  j)Ost,  against  which  no  attack  had  been 
iiu'ditatcd. 

The  invasion  of  the  ^foliawk  valley  by  Sir  John  John- 
son, in  October  t)f  this  yetir  (1780),  was  productive  of 
results  still  more  extensively  disastrous.  The  Indians 
connected  with  the  ex[)edition  were  led  by  Draiit,  and  by 
the  great  Seneca  warrior,  ("^orii- Planter.  This  chief  was  a 
liaU'-breed,  being  a  son  of  a  white  trader,  named  0'r)ail, 
and  a  Seneca  squaw.  During  this  campaign,  he  took 
old  O'Bail  prisoner.  Mnking  himself  known  to  his  father, 
Corn-Planter  enlarged  \\i)on  his  own  position  and  conse- 
quence, offering  the  old  man  his  choice,  whether  he  would 


I  :;  .. 


'i  - 


5'    '. 


-.■•'' 


J 


,4"   /:;;;■ 

' 

*..'■■'  ^ 

.  f 

'I  *« 

%  :\  ■ 

■     '        .' 

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(' 

■'    *"il 


,.<>:.  ••:\ 


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y-fr^::;i 


'    ■        •.'.'!(''  .,..1,1, '  ',■    i,'',.  ■  '''}m 
I*'  ■       •■  ■'■It'. •?'•;;''■'   •  1 


'■*M 


»  :      ■■  '■■■  P  'till  9 


'*ll 


1.      '-.  *ltf 


•*■■''•;■■ 


326 


INDIAN   RACES  OF   AMEIilCA. 


live  in  case  and  plenty  among  liis  .son's  followers,  or  rctiu'n 
to  the  settlements  of  tlie  whites.  O'JJail  preferred  the 
latter  conrse,  and  was  cseorted  aecordingly  to  a  plaee  of 
safety.  We  shall  speak  further  of  this  noted  warrior,  iu 
describing  his  successful  rival,  the  great  orator  Ked- Jacket. 

The  usual  horrors  attendant  upon  Indian  warfare  marked 
this  campaign  of  -lohn.sou's;  but  we  are  not  without  evi- 
dence that  the  principal  leader  of  the  savages  was  inclined 
to  no  cruelty  farther  than  that  necessarily  incident  to  the 
Indian  mode  of  conducting  hostilities.  On  one  occasion, 
he  soul  one  of  his  runners  to  return  a  young  infant  that 
had  been  carried  off  with  other  ca})tives  and  plunder. 
The  messenger  delivered  a  letter  from  Brant,  directed  "to 
the  commanding  oflieer  of  the  rebel  army,"  in  whicli  tlie 
Mohawk  chief  avers  that  "whatever  others  might  do,"  ho 
made  no  war  upon  women  and  children.  lie  mentioned 
the  two  Butler.s,  and  other  tory  parti.saus,  as  being  "  moi'o 
savage  than  the  savag(\s  themselves." 

The  Indians  of  the  Six  Nations,  engaged  in  the  royal 
caiise,  made  Niagara  their  winter  head-quartei.s.  'J'liencc 
their  scouts  and  war-parties  continued  to  molest  the  bor- 
der country  through  tlie  ensuing  sjiring  and  stimnier,  but 
no  very  important  engagement  took  })luce  until  Oi'tober 
(1781).  On  the  '2-lth  of  that  month,  the  iidud»itants  of 
the  country  Houth  of  the  Mohawk,  near  the  mouth  of  Selio- 
harie  creek,  were  astonished  by  tlu;  unex])ected  inroad  of 
an  overwhelming  force  of  the  enemy,.  The  army,  undtr 
the  command  of  ^lajor  Ros.s,  amounti'd  to  neai'ly  a  thou- 
sand men,  including  Indians.  'J'hey  had  made  their  way 
from  Buck's  Island,  in  the  St.  Lawrence,  to  Oswego,  ami 
thence,  by  Oneida  lake,  to  ihc  Mohawk  valley,  so  sud- 
denly and  secretly,  that  no  news  of  their  approach  lunl 
preceded  them. 

Tlio  invaders  commenced  tlic  usual  course  of  ravage 
and  destruction,  but  their  success  was  I'ut  of  .short  dura- 


THE  IROQUOIS,  OR  SIX  NATIOI'S. 


327 


tion.  They  were  disastrously  routed  and  put  to  fliglit  by 
tlio  provincials,  under  Colonel  Willet,  aided  by  a  body  of 
Oneida  warriors.  The  notorious  Walter  N.  Butler  per- 
ished during  tlie  last  engagement  -with  tlie  Americans. 
He  was  shot  and  scalped  by  an  Oneida  Indian. 

This  was  the  last  important  procedure  connected  with 
the  war  of  the  revolution,  in  which  the  Iroquois  bore  a 
part.  I'liey  proved,  throughout  the  contest,  most  danger- 
ous and  efficient  allies,  rendering  an  immense  extent  of  the 
richest  and  most  beautiful  portion  of  the  state  of  New 
York  unsafe  for  the  Americans. 


CIIA' TEH  VII. 

CONDITION    OF    THE    SIX    NATIONS    SUBSEQUENT    TO    THE 

REVOLUTION — CONCLUSION  OF  BKANT's    HISTORY — 

RED-JACKET  AND  COKN-PLANTER. 

After  the  conclusion  of  peace  and  the  recognition  of 
the  independence  of  tlie  United  States,  arrangements  were 
made  between  the  British  government  and  those  of  the 
Six  Nations  who  still  wished  to  reside  under  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  the  jiarent  countiy,  to  s(>cure  them  an  asylum  in 
Canada.  Thayendanegea  was  the  i)rineipid  negotiator  on 
the  part  of  the  Indians,  and,  at  his  instance,  the  country 
])or(lc'riiig  on  Grand  Biver,  which  empties  into  Lake  Erie, 
!il)()ut  thirty  miles  westward  from  Buffalo,  was  granted  by 
tlie  crown  to  "the  Mt)hawks,  ami  others  of  the  Six  Na- 
tions, who  had  cithfr  lost  tlieir  })Ossessions  hi  the  war,  or 
wished  to  retire  from  them  to  the  British."  They  were  to 
he  secured  in  the  possession  of  a  tract  extending  six  miles 
in  breadth,  on  each  side  of  the  river,  from  its  mouth  to 
its  source. 

The  course  to  be  taken  by  the  United  States  respecting 


•   ni 


t    .  ■' 


P 


■» 


n. 


.;  •■:,;;    f<:f :■:<%■ '14 


■'     '        '.  . 


•'.'.  •■. 


■'  ;.■'( 


'''■'■  aI 


r' 

^.t. 

,     .  ■'' 

f    .'■ 

,  r  •' 


'if  '•   '  ■ '    .       '  '■ 


-m 


■■it  m 


apt  V:'W',H\{i^5lJ 


■:4^^ 


328 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMEUICA. 


the  Iroquois  resident  within  their  limits,  was  a  subject 
which  led  to  much  dirtcussio  i  and  dissension.  A  conference 
was  finally  held  at  Fort  Stunwix,  between  depiities  from  all 
the  six  tribes  and  Iniited  States  commissioners-  and,  after 
much  violent  debate,  in  which  the  celebrated  Red-Jacket 
took  a  prominent  part,  it  was  settled  that  the  Indians  should 
cede  to  the  government  all  Jurisdiction  over  lands  in  east- 
ern New  York,  and  eontine  themselves  to  a  district  speo'lied 
at  the  west.  All  prisoners  were  to  be  delivered  up,  and 
several  hostages  were  given  to  secure  performance  of  their 
stipulations  on  the  part  of  the  Six  Nations. 

Many  of  the  Indians  were  greatly  dissatisfied  with  this 
treaty.  Hed-Jaeket  (in  opposition  to  Corn-Planter)  stren- 
uously advocated  a  eontinuaiiee  of  hostilities.  His  speech 
at  Fort  Staiiwix  upon  the  subject  gained  him  a  wide  rejui- 
tation  for  orati:)ry.  lb-ant,  who  was  t\.'n  about  starting 
for  Kngland  to  push  tlu'  claims  of  his  tribe  for  remuiicra- 
•  tion  for  their  losses  in  the  war,  post]ionetl  his  embarkation, 
and  wrote  a  letter  of  remonstrance  to  Colonel  ^^()nroe,  com- 
plaining especially  of  the  retention  of  one  of  his  relatives, 
a  Captain  Aaron  Hill,  as  one  of  the  hostages. 

The  Afohawk  chief  did  not  lay  aside  his  purpose  of  visit 
ing  tlie  royal  court  in  his  j)eople's  behalf,  lie  arrived  in 
England  in  the  nu)iith  of  Decembe"^  1785,  and  never  was 
ambassador  receiveil  with  more  llattering  attention.  His 
intelligence  and  dignity,  together  with  the  remeudirance  of 
his  long  and  faithful  services,  commended  him  to  all.  Ho 
was  feted  by  the  nobility  and  gentry;  liis  acipiainlaniH: 
was  sought  by  the  most  learned  and  celebrated  dignitaries 
of  the  age;  and  the  native  slirewdm^ss  evinced  in  his 
speeches  and  remarks  drew  forth  universal  a])i)lause.  His 
attempt  to  awaken  an  interest  at  court,  in  favor  of  the 
claims  of  his  nation,  was  successful ;  and  a  royal  oi'der  was 
obtained  for  the  indemnity  of  those  whose  losses  had  been 
specified,  and  for  an  examination  of  further  demands. 


( )S0  of  visit 
iirrivi'il  ill 
never  ^vas 

ntioii.  lli>; 
iiibranee  of 
to  all.  lie 
|u:iintaiu'0 
(liLi'iiitaries 

nceil  ill  lii> 
l:iiuse.  Ili^ 
avor  of  the 
;il  order  was 

;es  had  l)een 
ernaiids. 


THE  IROQUOIS,  OR  SIX  NATIONS. 


329 


In  the  United  States,  Ldian  aflairs  continued  unsettled, 
and  ominous  i)rospects  of  future  disturhancc  on  the  western 
frontier  called  for  vise  and  cautious  action.  A  great 
council  was  held  in  December,  178fi,  by  many  tribes  of 
Lidians,  among  whom  the  Six  Nations  were  the  most 
prominent,  at  Huron  village,  not  far  from  the  mouth  of 
Detroit  river.  The  object  was  to  concert  some  general 
|)lan  of  resistance  to  eneioachments  upon  their  lands  by 
tlie  inhabitants  of  the  United  States.  It  is  said  that  an 
unfriendly  feeling  towards  the  new  government  was  pro- 
moted by  English  ollicials  in  their  communications  with 
the  Indians,  in  reference  to  the  retention,  by  the  crown, 
of  Oswego,  Detroit,  Niagara,  and  other  i)osts. 

For  many  years,  sulisecjuent  to  the  peace  with  England, 
Moody  skirmishes,  and  scenes  of  i)liinder  and  ra[)iiie,  kept 
the  western  border  in  continual  distress;  and  when  the 
United  States  undertook  the  reduction  of  the  hostile  tribes 
ill  17i*0  and  91,  it  was  found  that  the  feeling  of  disallec- 
tioii  on  the  part  of  the  red  men  was  indeed  extensive. 
Upon  the  occasit)!!  of  St.  Clair's  disastrous  defeat  by  the 
Miamis  and  their  associates,  \inder  the  renowned  chief, 
Little  Turtle,  it  is  asserted  by  the  biograpner  of  Brant  that 
the  old  Mohawk  warrior  and  the  warlike  tribe  to  which  he 
belonged  bore  a  consjiicuons  part. 

No  man,  born  of  a  savage  stock,  has  ever  associated 
with  tiie  enlightened  and  intelligent  ni)on  terms  of  greater 
equality  than  did  Thayendanegea.  "While  he  retained  all 
liis  partiality  for  his  own  people,  and  never  lo.st  sight  of 
their  interests,  he  fully  appreciated  the  advantages  of  edu- 
cation and  civilization.  A  long  life,  spent  for  the  most 
part  amid  scenes  of  strife  and  danger,  in  ^,•hieh  the  whole 
powers  of  his  active  mind  and  body  seem?d  called  forth 
by  the  stirring  scenes  in  wdiicli  he  mingled,  did  not  unlit 
him  for  the  j)\irsuits  of  literature  and  the  arts  of  peace. 
He  was  indefati Liable  in  his  endeavors  to  elevato  the  social 


.'» 


!| 


1^ 


i  J'".l 

r  ,,'■ 

3C'      , 


'cm'}^'^ 


*eS'l 


330 


INDIAN  KACES  OK  AMEKJt'A. 


position  of  Ills  trilio,  aiul  devoted  no  little  time  and  atten- 
tion to  til  :  tnaisliition  of  seri])tur!il  and  other  works  into 
I'll  2kf  :..t\vk  tongue,  for  their  henelit.  His  earlier  sped- 
5  ■■  •'■!  '.'/,  ■"  "imposition,  Avhieh  have  been  preserved,  are,  ns 
nil,  ''i  1ft  ':  .'peetcd,  rudely  and  imperfectly  expressed,  but 
they  evinee  .'  >t  shrewdness  and  intelligence.  ^I'he  ])ru- 
duetions  of  his  latter  years  are  strikingly  forcible  and 
elegant. 

We  cannot  go  into  a  detail  of  the  tedious  and  some- 
what obscure  negotiations  with  the  American  government 
in  which  the  chief  of  the  Six  Nations  took  part  in  behalf 
of  his  people,  nor  chronicle  the  events  of  private  interest 
and  domestic  troubles  wdueh  disturbed  his  declining  years. 
The  old  warrior  died  in  Xovend)er,  ItiOT,  at  the  age  uf 
sixty-fonr. 

In  the  Avar  of  1812,  the  Mohawks,  under  John  Drant, 
sou  and  successor  of  Thayemlaiiegea,  took  the  ])ai't  of'tlwii' 
old  friends  and  allies,  the  J']nglish,  and  did  good  serviec 
in  various  engagements  ni)on  the  northern  frontier. 

In  the  eai-ly  part  of  the  nineteenth  century,  few  names 
stand  more  prominent  in  Indian  annals  than  that  of  the 
Seneca  chief  and  orator,  Saguoaha,  or  Jted-.bicket.  AVe 
hear  of  him,  indeeil,  in  much  earlier  times,  as  opposed  td 
Brant,  at  the  time  of  Sullivan's  eam})aign.  '^^i'he  Mohawk 
chief  always  regarded  him  with  contempt  and  dislike, 
speaking  of  him  as  an  arrant  coward,  and  a  man  of  words 
merely.  Saguoaha  held  the  Avhites  generally  in  suspieiuii, 
and  his  great  cllbrt  apjiears  ever  to  have  been  foi-  the  ])ve- 
servation  of  his  nation's  independence  and  indivi«hialitv. 

\Ye  have  already  mentioned  the  })art  which  he  took  at 
the  treaty  of  Fort  Stanwix,  and  his  opposition  to  the 
cession  by  his  nation  of  their  eastern  lands.  Corn-I'laiitiT, 
or  O'Bail,  wdio  ftiyored  the  proposal,  was  high  in  authority 
at  that  time  among  the  Scnecas;  but  lied-Jaeket,  moi'c  by 
his  elo(pience  and  sagacity  in  council  than  by  any  warlike 


■'fi"v^ht 


THE  IROQUOIS,  OR  SIX  XATlONrf. 


oo  J. 


(icliicveuienir<,  was  "j^raduiilly  sii])ii]antiiig  liiin.  Cuni- 
I'laiilcr  was  a  veteran  svarrior,  and  had  r()U<j,Ut  in  rorincr 
limes  against  the  Kngiish,  i,i  bt'hall' ol' the  French,  lie  is 
said  to  have  been  attaeiied  ti)  the  Ki'cneh  and  Indian  anny, 
upon  the  occasion  of  liraddock's  dtleat,  in  1755.  Um 
cuiild  ill  brook  the  rivalry  ol'  a  young  man,  noted  il^r  no 
wai'like  achievements,  and  only  ])romin('nt  among  his 
|iooj)le  by  virtue  of  liis  natural  gill  of  ehj(|uenee.  To 
chock,  tliercfore,  this  advance  of  tlie  young  orator,  OMiail 
endeavored  to  work  ui)on  the  credulity  of  his  people  by 
announcing  his  brother  as  a  projjhet,  and,  1)r  a  time,  suc- 
o'cded  in  exciting  their  reverence  and  suj)erstitious  fears. 
Hcil-.Jacket,  however,  in  ojmmi  council,  elo(|uently  jn-o- 
cliiimed  him  an  impostor,  and  harangued  the  tribe  with 
such  power  and  eflect  as  to  create  a  complete  diversion  in 
liis  own  favor,  lie  was  chosen  chief  of  his  tribe,  and  ex- 
civised,  from  that  time  forth,  a  control  over  his  numerous 
followers  seldom  surj)assed  by  any  Indian  ruler,  lie  was 
u  steady  op[)oser  of  Christianity,  holding  the  missi(Miaries 
who  endeav(jred  to  ell'ect  the  conversion  of  the  Six  Nations, 
ill  great  suspicion.  As  a  specimen  of  his  style  of  oratory, 
we  will  give  some  extracts  of  Saguoaha's  speeches  u})oii 
those  religious  ([uestions,  as  they  are  to  be  found  in 
Thatcher's  Indian  biography.  It  must  be  observed  that, 
with  chai'acterislic  oljstinacy,  the  s})eaker  would  never  use 
the  English  language,  but  communicated  his  remarks  by 
means  of  an  interpreter,  so  that  due  allowance  nuist  be 
made  for  the  change  in  style  and  loss  of  force  almost 
always  attendant  upon  a  translation. 

At  a  Seneca  council  in  ^lay,  1811,  held  at  Ijiillalo 
Creek,  he  answered  a  missionary  from  New  York,  sub- 
stantially as  follows:  "Brother! — we  listened  to  the  talk 
you  delivei'cd  us  fi'om  the  Council  of  Black-Coats  in  New 
York.  We  have  fully  considered  your  talk,  and  the  offers 
you  have  made  us.     We  now  return  our  answer,  which 


I 


l 

-!■  ^: 

if- 

■ 

1. 

) 

1'. 

i'             , ', 

w 


i»ii 

1  ' ' 


II 


' '  '■■  ■'  I 

■;i.'''ji 


■'^:^:^^'m'i 


■"■(■J     >'■  ■•  ■^'''  v)  ''\ 


ooJu 


INDIAN   RACES   OF   AMEUICA. 


wc  wi.sli  you  also  to  niulorstaiid.  Tu  innkinf^  np  our 
minds,  wo  Iikvc  loo'ci'd  back  to  rciiKMiilxn'  wluit  lias  ])ocn 
doiu'  ill  our  days,  and  wliat  our  lallKTs  have  told  us  was 
di)iK!  in  okl  times. 

"Brother! — Great  numbers  of  Black-Coats  liave  been 
among  the  Indians.  With  sweet  voices  and  Huiiling  faces, 
tlicy  olVcrcd  to  teach  them  the  religion  of  tlic  Avliite  peoph*. 
Our  brethren  in  the  Kast  listened  to  them.  They  tunicd 
from  the  religion  of  their  fathers,  and  took  up  the  religion 
(if  the  white  peojjle.  Wliat  good  has  it  done?  Are  they 
liiove  friendly  one  to  another  than  Ave  are?  Xo,  lirother! 
They  are  a  divided  jjcople ; — w  e  arc  united.  Tliey  (piarn'I 
about  religion  ;-— Ave  live  in  love  and  friendship,  l^'sidcs, 
they  di'ink  strong  waters.  And  they  have  learned  liow  tu 
cheat,  and  how  to  i)ractice  all  the  other  vices  of  the  wiiite 
lieojilc,  witliout  iinitating  their  virtues.  Brotlier! — If  vnu 
■wish  us  well,  keep  away;  do  not  (bsturb  us. 

"  Ib'other! — We  do  not  worship  the  (ireat  Spirit  as  the 
white  jieople  do,  but  wc  believe  that  tlic  Ibnns  of  woi'.-liip 
are  indilferent  to  the  Great  Spirit.  It  is  ihc  homage  ei' 
sincere  hearts  that  pleases  him,  and  wo  worship  him  in 
that  manner." 

After  arguing  the  matter  a  little  more  at  length,  ain] 
expressing  a  decided  i)refereiice  for  the  "talk"  of  Mr, 
Granger,  an  Indian  agent,  and  lor  that  of  the  eniissariis 
of  the  Society  of  Friends,  the  orator  concluded: 

"Brother! — For  these  reasons  we  cannot  receive  your 
oilers.  We  have  other  things  to  do,  and  beg  y(ju  to  nuikr 
your  mind  easy,  without  troubling  us,  lest  our  heads  slioiild 
be  too  much  loaded,  and  by  and  l)y  burst."  l{ed-,laeki.t 
remained,  through  life,  consistent  with  the  ground  lirst 
taken  by  him  npon  religious  and  political  ((uestions.  To 
the  clergy  he  was  ever  courteous  and  civil,  and  ai»pe;iis 
to  have  been  ready  to  hold  argument  with  them  u|i(iii 
their  creed.     In  conversation  with  one  of  the  cloth,  he  is 


^'.' 


TUE  lUOQUOIS,  01{  SIX  NATIONS. 


said  to  liavc  strcimously  donicHl  ;iny  responsibility  on  tlio 
part  of  the  rod  men  ibr  tlic  deutii  ol'  Cliri.st.  "UrothiT," 
said  he,  "if  you  white  peojjle  murdered  'the  Saviour,' 
make  it  up  yourselveH.  We  had  notliinff  to  do  ^vith  it. 
If  he  had  eonie  among  us,  we  siioukl  liavc  treated  him 
better." 

In  the  war  of  1812,  tlie  Senecas  espoused  the  Ameriean 
interests,  and,  Brant's  assertions  to  tlie  eoiitrary  notwitli- 
Btanding,  their  ehief,  with  his  subordinates — Farmer's 
Brother,  Little  Billy,  Pollard,  Blaek  Snake,  ^'()lln,^■  O'Bail, 
(a  son  of  Corn-Planter,)  and  others — gained  lionoiahle 
notiee  for  courage  and  aetivity  from  the  eonnnanding 
ollieers  of  the  army  to  which  they  were  attached.  It  is 
still  more  i)leasing  to  reflect  that  these  Indians  readily  con- 
formed to  the  more  humane  usages  of  modern  warlhrc. 
General  Boyd  re])orted  that,  "the  bravery  and  humanity 
of  the  Indians  were  e([ually  conspicuous." 

In  his  old  age,  U(>d-Jacket  became  very  intenijierate, 
and  in  so  many  instances  conducted  himself  in  a  manner 
uiihecoming  the  dig'iity  of  a  ehief,  that  his  oj)j)()ncnts,  the 
Christian  portion  of  the  tribe,  .succeeded  in  ])assing  a  reso- 
lution, in  council,  for  his  deposition.     This  was  elfected  in 
1  Soptend)er,  of  the  year  1827,  and  a  i'ormal  written  ])rocla- 
mation  of  the  charges  .said  to  be  substantiated  against  him, 
was  {troinulgatcd.     The  old  chief  immediately  bestirred 
liinuself  to  obtain  a  revocation  of  this  decree.     lie  caused  a 
I  grand  comu'il  of  the  Six  Nations  to  be  held,  and,  with  all  his 
1  former  fire  and  energy,  nuide  answer  to  his  accusers.    A  I'tiT 
enumerating  and  ridiculing  the  charges  against  him,  (many 
,  of  them  really  trilling,)  he  j)roeeeded  to  speak  oi'  his  loiig- 
I  continued  .services  ami  care  for  his  people:  "I  feel  sorry 
for  my  nation,"  said  he;  "when  I  inn  gone  to  the  other 
worlds, — wdien    the    Givat   Spirit   calls  me  away, — who 
among  my  people  can  take  my  place?     Many  years  have 
I  guided  the  nation." 


■  mm-, 


>f 


t: 


■  1 

,.  '-I'j 

% 

;       "V 

I    ■;»'J 


'  ^  I 


334 


INDIAN   KACES  OF  AMERICA, 


Tilt!  cloqnoncc  of  the  spcnkor,  and  a  remornliranco  of 
liis  (hithful  /Oil!  lor  tlic  welfare  of  his  tril)o,  produced  their 
due  elfect:  he  was  fully  restored  to  his  former  position  funl 
authority.  During  the  latter  years  of  liis  life,  Hed-.lackct 
resided  at  the  Scncoa  settlement,  in  the  vicinity  of  Uull;il((. 
Uv  made  several  visits  to  the  Eastern  cities,  when;  his  iip- 
j)earance  always  attracted  much  interest  and  attentidn. 
A  traveller  who  visited  the  Seneca  country  a  few  yeiirs 
lieforu  the  death  of  the  old  chii-f  (which  took  jjlace  in 
January,  1830,)  speaks  of  his  residence  and  appearance  in 
the  following  terms:  "My  path  grew  more  and  iiioi'c  in. 
distinct,  until  its  windings  were  only  intimated  by  the 
smoothness  of  the  turf,  which  often  left  me  in  pcrpl(;xity, 
till  it  at  last  brought  me  to  the  view  of  the  aluidc  (>{'  the 
chief,  lie  had  jienetrated,  like  a  wild  beast,  into  the 
deepest  recesses  of  the  forest,  almost  bt'yond  tin;  power  df 
a  white  man  to  trace  him.  A  wild  beast!  but  I  foiuiil  Jiim 
in  a  calm,  contemjtlativc  mood,  and  surrounded  by  a  duvr- 
ful  family.  Old  and  young,  collected  about  the  door  df 
the  log  Imt  when;  he  was  seated,  s(V'med  to  I'egard  liiui 
with  ail'ection;  and  an  infant,  which  one  of  tli(>  females 
held  in  her  ai'uis,  receivetl  his  eai'csses  with  smiles.  It 
was  a  striking  scene— a  chief!  Yet  some  of  his  infciidrs, 
wlio  cultivate  the  soil  in  other  parts  of  the  Seneca  lands, 
liad  abundant  fields  and  well-(illed  storedionses,  while  ho 
was  poor,  but  bore  his  privations  willi  apparent  e(piaiiiiii- 
ity.  If  he  had  power,  he  did  not  exert  it;  if  he  had  passions, 
they  were  quiescent;  if  he  h;id  sufVere(l  injuries,  liny  were 
buried  in  his  breast. — His  looks,  his  motions,  his  attitudes, 
had  that  east  of  superiority  which  convinced  me  that, 
whether  justly  or  not,  lu;  c<Misidered  no  man  his  sujierior 
iri  understanding.— lie  a])peared  to  regard  himself  as  tlie 
only  one  of  his  uation  v;lio  retained  the  feelings  and  opin- 
ions of  his  ancestors,  and  +o  [iride  himself  in  preserving 
them."     llalleck's  address  to  "lied-Jacket,  on  looking  at 


,.     ^  T! 


'I'liK  iKoyuoirt,  on  six  nations. 


885 


his  portniit,  by  AVicr,"  !iltli()ii,L!li  not  in  all  ivspccts  strictly 
iieconlinit  with  fiicts,  contaitis  a  IjcautiCul  summary  (jf  In- 
diiiu  cliamctcristics.     Tho  poctu  concludes  an  ivWows: 

"Tlic  moniircli  iiiiml,  tlic  mystery  of*  (•nnirnanding, 
Tlu"  l)irtli-li()iir  ^nt't,  tlu«  jiit  N.ipuh'on, 
Of  winninj,',  t'cttciin},',  moulding,',  widdiiic;,  Imiuliny 
The  hearts  of  millions,  till  they  move  i\f  one; 

Thou  hast  it.     At  thy  liiddin},'  men  linve  erowdcd 
The  roiid  to  d-nlh  as  to  a  festival; 
And  minstrels,  at  their  se|Mil('hros,  have  shrouded 
With  banner-folds  of  j,'lory  the  dark  pall. 

Who  will  helieve?     Not  I — for  in  deeeiving 
Lies  the  dear  ehartn  of  life's  deliifhtful  dream; 
I  eaiHiot  s|)are  the  Inxnry  of  helievini,' 
That  all  tliiiii,'.s  hcaiitifid  are  what  they  seem. 

Wiio  will  believe  that,  witli  a  smile  whose  blessing 
Would,  like  the  [lafriin'eh's,  sooth  a  dyiii!?  hour, 
With  voiee  jis  low,  as  jrentle  .Mnd  earessin<f, 
As  e'er  won  maideirs  li|)  in  moonlit  bower; 

With  look  like  i)atient  .lob's,  eseliewinij  evil; 
With  motions  i,'raeefid  as  a  liird's  in  Jiir; 
Thou  art,  in  scdier  truth,  tiie  veriest  devil 
7^Iiat  e'er  elenehed  lintjers   n  ji  cajitive's  hair! 

That  in  thy  breast  there  spriii/s  a  poiscui  fountain, 
Deadlier  tha?i  that  where  batiuM  the  [^pas-tree; 
And  in  thy  wrath,  a  nnrsinif  eal-o"-monntain 
Is  calm  as  a  babe's  sleep,  compared  with  thee! 

And  underneath  tlimt  face,  like  Summer  Ocean's, 
Its  lip  as  moveless,  and  its  cheek  as  clear, 
Slumbers  a  whirlwind     f  the  heart's  emotions- 
Love,  hatred,  pride,  hope,  sorrow, — all  save  fear. 

Love — for  thy  land,  ns  if  she  were  thy  daughter, 
Her  pipe  in  peace,  her  tomahawk  in  wars; 
Hatred — of  missionaries  and  cold  water: 
Pride — in  thy  rille-trophics,  and  tiiy  sears; 


;r' 


I 


'I    '•'. 


m 

w 

'  ;'\* 

■    ■  I  ' 

< 

•;k 

i   ■* 

■4 

■      * 

'A 

hi 

it 
if* 

1 1 

ij 

i  <  I 


'  I 

I 


336 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AMERICA. 


Ilnpc — Hi.'it  lliy  wionrrs  niiiy  l)t'  by  tlu'  Great  Spirit 
Romi'iiiln'i'cd  iiiul  ri'\('iiLr<'il  wlicii  tlmu  art  goiU'; 
Sorrow — tliat  none  arc  left  tiling  to  iiilicrit 
Tliy  iianii",  thy  faiiu',  tliy  ])assioMs,  and  tliy  tlironel" 


■^ 


CIIAPTKR  VIII. 


PRESENT  CONDITION   OF   THK  SIX  NATIONS. 


The  inft)rniation  contained  in  tliis  cliapter  is  drawn  from 
Mr.  St'liuolcral't's  abstract?!  and  statistics,  presented  iu  his 
"Notes  on  th(j  Iroqnois, 


In  tal<iiiL!'  tlic  ce 


nsu? 


ordered  1)V  tlic  New  Y 


orl 


leo'is- 


lature  in  lb4;*l,  and  ]>rocurino'  statistics  of  tlic  agricultural 
o])erati(>ns  of  the  Iroquois,  the  author  informs  us  that  j^Tcat 
olijection  was  made  l>v  the  Indians  to  what  thcv  coiisiik'ivd 


an  oil! 


cinus  intermeddling  in  their  alVairs.    '^riieir  sus] 


Urldli: 


were  excitcil  by  tlie  novelty  of  the  requisition,  and  the 
matter  was  discussed  at  great  length  in  their  councils. 
They  could  not  persuade  themselves  that  the  goscrnincut 
Si  oiild  take  such  a  step  from  any  of  the  nu)tives  urged  hv 
those  to  whom  the  business  was  intrusted,  it  !ippear(Mlto 
them  most  ju'obable  that  the  measure  was  but  a  pi'clim- 
iiKirv  step  to  the  laying  a  tax  upon  their  properly,  ami 
tlii'V  eoiisi'fpicntly  opposed  continual  obstacles  to  a  satisfac- 


tory completion  ol  the  duty 


assiL^'iiei 


1.      The  entii'i'  p 


iliiil 


tioii  of  thi>  Six  Nations,  about  the  midiUe  of  thceightcc 
oi'iitiiry,   was  ccjininited   at  six.  or  eight  thousand, 
other  calculations,  made  a  1(!W  years  lati'r,  at  th(>  peri(M 


iilli 


luf 


the  A 
tl 


iiiencaii 


j'ev<uiition.  It  was  sujiposed  to  exceec 


IIIIIO 


lou.siud 


C(.>nscious  as  we  are  of  ihc  many  can.se.s  constantly  ope- 
rating to  reduce  tlu;  numbers  of  the  Indian  }>opul;iti(iii,  it 


IS 


a  matter  of  no  less  surprise  than  satisfaction  to  lo 


arn 


'tt'Af-' 


pirit 


nu: 


,1" 


'v( 


i*        fl 


'.V 


Ivawn  from 
uk'il  ill  liis 


:*l^ 


>K.-^^ 


'I 


''WMiiik  :'-<' 


'^1 


!'  V 


York  lt\ifis-   , 
agricultural 
iri  tl  Kit  great  , 
,-  considered 
r  sus])iei(/iis 
on,  and  tlu' 
'ir  roiiiirils. 
o'ovcrniiieiit 
OS  urged  liy 
a|i]H'ai'ed  to 
il  a  preliiii- 
•o|icrly,  ami 
to  a  satislk'- 
itivc  ]ii>]inlii- 
(M'iglitenitli 
lusand.      liv 
he  [icriod  nf 
exeoed  nine 


1-:^,! 


.V  .^t 


"■isfS 


iistaiilly  (ijic- 
npidatioii,  it 
ion  to  learn 


'"<  /*■; 


■.-==iK.easr-fl 


/„.  c(-.t.  Jt 


I 


rt  a; /(    .1.11  KET 


that  the 
quois  ni 
ancient 
tion  of 
possessi( 
to  show 
making, 
The  t 
tercel.     ' 
j  a  reserv 
smaller  a 
I  near  Wi 
I  was  stat( 
I  The  Sen 
at  about 
j  meution( 
mcnt  in 
The  M 
Canada, 
come  to 


sus,  glVl' 


He  estitn 
States  at 
would  se( 
the  last  VI 
below  th 
some  ye: 
clotheil, 
2J 


'   ■  i^fi; 


THE  IROQUOIS,  OR  SIX  NATIONS. 


337 


that  there  has  been  no  very  material  decrease  in  the  Iro- 
quois nation  since  the  extension  of  civilization  over  their 
ancient  country.  It  is  pleasing  to  reflect  that  some  por- 
tion of  the  strange  race  that  formerly  hold  undisturbed 
possession  of  the  wilds  of  America,  should  be  preserved 
to  show  what  advance  they  are,  as  a  people,  capable  of 
making,  when  aided  by  the  light  of  civilization. 

The  tribes  of  the  ancient  confederacy  are  widely  scat- 
tered. The  larger  portion  of  the  Oneidas  are  settled  upon 
a  reservation  in  the  vicinity  of  Ghhmi  Bay,  Wisconsin: 
snuiller  villages  of  the  tribe  are  situated  further  southward, 
near  Winnebago  ]iake.  The  number  of  these  emigrants 
was  stated  in  18-44  to  be  seven  hundred  and  twenty-two. 
The  Scnecas  who  have  moved  Avestward,  were  put  down 
at  about  two  hundred  and  thirty.  Kifty-one  of  the  last- 
mentioned  tribe,  were  resident  at  Corn-Planter's  settle- 
ment in  Fennsvlvania. 

I'lic  Moliawks,  Cayuf'as,  and  others  on  Grand  river,  in 
Canada,  probably  number  over  two  thousand.  We  now 
come  to  the  more  certain  statistics  of  the  New  York  cen- 
sus, given  as  follows,  by  Mr.  Schoolcraft: 


'  SoiK'i'as, 
On<ni(l:iif.i.s, 
Tiist'iiforas,   . 
OrR'idas,  . 
('ayufjiw, 
Muliiiwks, 
St.  Ri'iris  Ciuiton, 


'2MI 
398 
281 
210 
123 
20 
260." 


Uc  estimates  the  whole  nation,  in  Canada  and  the  United 
States  at  nearly  sevtm  thous-and.  lie  supposes,  and  it 
would  seem  very  justly,  that  there  has  been  a  period,  within 
the  last  century,  at  which  tlieir  numbers  were  reduced  much 
below  those  presented  by  reeciiu  returns;  "and  tliat,  for 
some  years  past,  and  since  they  have  b(!en  well  lodged  and 
clothed,  and  subsisted  by  their  own  labour,  and  been  ex- 
22 


\|'  ■'■ 


IJ  V 


ijii  v 


■;  -^i'llL.,, , 


vi.  • ;  -H 


\t    ?''; 


fAi  .>■■ 


ii'iif ' 


111   r>;Ni«l 

It'll    %      ■  '!s*«<x)yf "~ " 


'  ■•''St-' I 

-  ml 


838 


INDIAN  HACKS  OF  AMERlt  A. 


1 


empted  from  tlio  diseases  and  casualties  incident  to  savage 
life,  and  the  empire  of  the  forest,  their  population  Jias 
recovered,  and  is  now  on  the  ■increase.^'' 

Many  satisfactory  evidences  of  thrift  and  good  manage- 
ment, in  the  shape  of  saw-mills,  school-houses,  public 
buililingri,  and  ivell-kept  farms,  appear  in  the  Indiai  set- 
tlements of  New  York.  Nothing  seems  so  conduci ,';  to 
the  welikre  of  this  species  of  our  population  as  a  doj  end- 
ence  upon  their  own  resources,  where  the  means  of  advan- 
tageous labor  are  supj)lied  them.  Hie  evils  of  the  ji]  unity 
system,  and  of  the  custom  of  farming  oiit  their  h..)(l--  to 
tlie  whites  by  the  Induvns,  have  been  fully  raid  oloqu"ii;.^y 
set  forth.  The  first  of  these  practices  has  th.o  ell-.'  1  to 
bring  a  horde  of  un})rincipled  sharj>ers  about  the  place 
where  the  yearly  payment  is  made,  ^^']lo,  b}-  tiie  ;.em])ta- 
tions  of  useless  finery,  and,  far  wo^  ■<•,  by  tlio  oil'  of  tlio 
red-man's  greatest  bane,  intoxicating  li'-U'-c.-,  rtMnu  ■  t]w 
assistance  of  the  government  oft-times  rath.'r  a  cuisc,  than 
a  bl(;ssing.  Tl"-  latler  usiige  is  proilactive  of  e\'ii  by  its 
encouragement  of  id  <m>,  .- :,  rmd  by  strengthening  that  souse 
of  pride  aii'^  self-importani:<'  -hich  distinguishes  the  race. 
Where  the  cliange  i;-  tii-  iav;j  of  the  country,  and  the  in- 
troduction of  domestic  animals  have  rcmk'rcd  th.^  chase 
no  longer  necesoary  or  protitable,  the  Indian  still  pr'J'cr.s 
ranging  the  woods  vith  his  dog  and  gun,  to  the  enduraueo 
of  what  he  esteems  ser\ilc  labor. 

Striking  oxcepti')iis  to  the  above  remarks  are  to  be  scon 
in  the  conduct  and  employments  of  many  inhabitants  of 
Indian  villages  in  New  York.  Good  husbandry  is  evi- 
dent in  the  management  of  their  farms,  and  artisans  of 
no  mean  skill  arc  freciuently  met  with.  Some  of  those 
Indians,  who  have  turned  their  attention  to  the  art  of  W(jrl<- 
ing  in  silver,  are  said  to  produce  very  beautiful  specimeus 
of  orna'  lental  work,  especially  in  the  in-laying  of  gun- 
stocks,  handl(!S  to  tomahawks,  &c. 


atiou  luvs 


<•:  tluit  souse 


ii\<i;  of  guu- 


THE  IROQUOIS,  OR  SIX  NATIONS. 


339 


A  pol"tion  of  tlic  Scnecas,  settled  upon  the  Alleghany,  oc- 
cupy themselves  in  rafting  and  boating  upon  the  river,  and 
others  are  engaged  in  the  lake  navigation.  There  seems, 
indeed,  to  be  no  want  of  bodily  or  mental  capacity  in  the 
North  American  Indian,  for  the  successful  pursuit  of 
ncarlj'  every  trade,  jirofcssion,  and  occupation,  followed 
l}y  the  whites. 

One  most  beneficial  reformation  has  taken  place  among 
some  of  the  Iroquois,  in  a  movement  which,  if  universally 
encouraged,  would  do  more  to  regenerate  the  red-men, 
than  all  other  influences  combined.  We  allude  to  the 
introduction  and  foi'ination  of  temperance  societies. 

The  returns  of  agricultural  products  given,  at  the  time 
of  taking  the  census  before-mentioned,  in  1845,  arc  ex- 
tremely gratifying,  and  ma}^  well  convince  us  of  the  steady 
and  hopeful  advance  made  by  the  New  York  Indians  in 
self-reliance  and  honest  industry. 

Communications  from  the  missionaries,  engaged  in  the 
instruction  and  religious  guidance  of  the  Indians  dwelling 
on  the  dill'erent  reservations,  bear  witness  to  the  docility 
luid  aptness  of  their  pupils.  The  Eev.  Ashcr  Bliss,  in  a 
letter,  published  in  the  appendix  to  Mr.  Schoolcraft's  notes, 
ohserves:  "vVs  to  the  capacity  of  Indian  children  for  im- 
provement, my  own  imj)ression  is,  that  there  is  no  essen- 
tial dill'crence  between  them  and  white  children."  Of  the 
influence  of  the  Christian  religion  upon  the  worldly  pros- 
perity of  the  people  among  wlu)m  he  was  stationed,  (the 
Senccas  of  the  Cataraugus  reservation,)  Mr.  Bliss  speaks 
enthusiastically.  He  contrasts  "tlie  framed  houses  and 
hams,  the  horses,  cattle,  sheep  and  h(\u-s,  the  acres  of  im- 
[uoved  land;  the  wagons,  buggies  and  sleighs;  the  clocks, 
matches,  and  various  productions  of  agriculture,"  with  the 
destitution  and  poverty  of  former  times,  .and  exclaims, 
naturally  enough,  "  What  an  astonishing  change!" 


I? 


f? 


■■^•'.  ?  f  ;i 

.''  ^.  r 

' '  '■  '\  >•  i 

m 


'4 


if  fip«i. 


'ni 

.1 

)f, 

y 

i  ■ 

;'iv 

■(,•• 


t  -..ft     '■;V'»'>iJ 


^:kl 


:H 


PONTIAC'S  WAR. 


CIIAPTEli  I. 


FRENCH  INFLUENCE  OVER    THE    INDIANS — liUITISII    OCCUPATION   OF 

THE  WESTEKN  POSTS — PONTIAC  AND  HIS  PLANS  FOR 

EXTERMINATING  THE  ENGLISH. 


Early  in  the  eighteenth  century  the  French  had  com- 
menced extending  their  'nfluence  among  the  tribes  who 
inhabited  the  country  bordering  on  the  great  western  lalces. 
Always  more  successful  than  the  other  European  settlors 
in  conciHating  the  affections  of  the  savages  among  whom 
tlicy  lived,  they  had  obtained  the  hearty  good-will  of  na- 
tions little  known  to  th(^  F^nglish.  ^riie  cordial  familiarity 
of  the  race,  and  the  terms  of  easy  e(|nality  upon  which 
they  were  content  to  share  the  rude  huts  of  the  Indians,  in- 
gratiated them  move  readily  witli  their  hosts,  than  a  course 
of  English  reserve  and  formality  could  have  done,  'i'lic 
most  marked  instances  of  the  contrast  between  the  two 
great  parties  of  colonists  may  be  seen  in  the  dill'erent 
measure  of  success  met  with  in  their  respective  religious 
operations.  While  the  stern  doctrines  of  New  Eugliaid 
divines,  as  a  general  rule,  wer(>  neglected  or  contennicil 
by  their  rude  hearers,  the  Jesuits  met  with  signal  success 
in  acquiring  a  s])iritual  influence  over  the  aborigines. 
Whether  it  was  owing  to  the  more  attractive  form  in 
which  they  promulgated  their  creed  and  worshij),  or 
whether  it  was  due  to  their  peisomd  readiness  to  vAuyl 
themselves  to  the  habits,  and  to  sympath  ize  with  the  feelings 


PONTIAC'S  WAR. 


341 


of  their  piosclytcs,  certain  it  is  that  they  maintained  a 
strong  Lold  upon  the  ailection.s,  and  a  powerful  influcnee 
over  the  conduct  of  tlieir  adopted  brethren. 

Adair,  writing  with  natur.'>i  prejudice,  says  that,  "instead 
of  reforming  tlic  Indians,  the  monies  and  friars  corrupted 
their  morals:  for  in  the  place  of  inculcating  lov^,  peace, 
and  good-will  to  their  red  pupils,  as  became  messengers  of 
the  divine  author  of  peace,  they  only  impressed  thti  ■  flexi- 
ble minds  witli  an  iniphicablc  hatred  against  every  British 
subject,  without  any  distinction.  Our  people  will  soon 
discover  the  bad  policy  of  the  late  Quebec  act,  and  it  is  to  be 
hoped  that  Great-  Britain  will,  in  due  time,  send  those  black 
croaking  clerical  frogs  of  Canada  home  to  their  infallible 
Mufti  of  Home."  The  Ottawas,  Chii)pcwns,  and  Potti. 
watomies,  who  dwelt  on  tlie  Great  Lakes,  proved  as 
staunch  adherents  to  the  French  interests  as  were  the  Six 
Nations  to  those  of  the  English,  and  tlie  bitterest  hostility 
jjrevailed  between  these  two  great  di\isions  of  the  abo- 
riginal ])oi)ulation. 

When  English  troops,  iji  accordance  with  the  treaty  of 
1700,  were  })ut  in  possession  of  the  Fri'iich  stations  on  the 
lakes,  they  found  the  Indians  little  disposed  to  assent  to 
the  change.  The  great  sachem  who  stood  at  the  head  of 
the  confederate  western  tribes  was  tlie  celebrated  Ottowa 
chief  Pontiac. 

The  iirst  d(!tacluneut,  luider  Major  Rogers,  which  entered 
the  western  country  on  the  way  to  Detroit,  the  most  im- 
l)ortant  post  on  the  lakes,  was  favoral)ly  received  by  the 
Indian  chief,  but  not  without  a  proud  assertion  of  his  own 
rights  and  authority,  lie  sent  a  fornud  embassy  to  meet 
the  English,  and  to  ainu^unce  his  intention  of  giving  an 
uudienee  to  their  counnander.  Uogers  deseribes  him  as  a 
chief  of  noble  appearauee  and  dignitied  address.  At  the 
conference  he  intpiired  hy  what  right  the  English  entered 
his  country;  and  upim  the  Major's  disavowing  all  hostile 


m 


!; 


•;■  .ii 


'  ^f 


h 


b    s*  •■' 


'■■":'' 
,  rn  ,  '■■■■'J 


■  'm 
•  ••  f'«i 


^f^ 


t      ] 


'■v-;',.,t 


'i!/ 


It''     ''Mi 


-4* 


"  10 


INDIAN  KACKS  OF  AMElilCA. 


'■.If 


■  ^v 


intent  towards  the  Indians,  seemed  more  plaiiiible,  but 
checked  any  furtlier  advance,  until  his  pleasui'e  sliuuld  be 
made  known,  with  tlic  pitliy  observation:  "1  stand  in  the 
path  you  travel  until  to-morrow  morning,"  lie  finally 
allowed  the  forces  to  proceed,  and  even  furnished  men  to 
protect  them  and  their  stores. 

Pontiac  assisted  and  protected  this  garrison  for  a  i)eri(wl, 
but  probably  even  then  was  pondering  in  his  miiul  the 
great  scheme  of  restoring  his  French  allies  and  extenni-' 
nating  the  intruders.  He  has  been  frc(iuently  compared 
to  Philip,  the  great  Wami)anoag  sachem,  both  Ibr  his 
kingly  spirit  and  for  the  similarity  of  their  plans  to  crush 
the  encroachments  of  the  English,  ,1'outiac  had  an  im- 
mense force  under  his  control,  and  could  well  all'ord  to 
distribute  it  in  as  uvduy  different  detachments  as  thep: 
were  strongholds  of  the  enemy  to  be  overthrown.  It  was 
in  the  year  17G3  that  his  arrangements  were  completed, 
and  the  month  of  June  was  fixed  upun  for  a  simultane- 
ous onslaught  upon  every  British  ])ost.  The  eloquent  and 
sagacious  Uttowa  chief  had  drawn  into  his  cons})ii'aey,  iiuL 
only  the  people  of  his  own  nation,  with  the  Chippewas 
and  I'ottawatomies,  but  large  numbers  from  otlier  western 
tribes,  as  the  Miamies,  the  Sacs  and  Foxes,  the  Ilurous 
and  the  Shawanees.  He  even  secured  the  alliance  of  a 
portion  of  tlie  Delawares  and  of  the  Six  Nations. 

In  vain  were  the  oJlicers  of  the  garrisons  at  Michili- 
mackinac  and  other  distant  I'oils  warned  by  traders,  win) 
had  ventured  among  the  Indians,  that  a  general  disallec- 
tion  was  observable.  They  felt  secure,  and  no  s})eci;il 
means  wore  taken  to  avert  the  coming  storm. 

So  well  concerted  were  the  arrangements  for  attack,  and 
such  consummate  duplicity  and  deception  Avere  used  in 
carrying  them  out,  that  nearly  all  the  English  forts  at 
the  west  were,  within  a  few  days  from  the  first  demon- 
Btration,  in  the  hands  of  the  savages,  the  garrisons  having 


■1-1 


't! ,  '.19 


V    U 


).'  '»;i 


T!,^ 


HJi 


t 


"J  A  L 


;?«!  ^r  :!^' 


WP'H': 


im 


'fji'if 


m 


m 


been  r 
and  mi 
iliiiiiiol 
the  liil< 

Hull 
been  Ic 
oil  tlie 
birtbdii 
usuul, 
guard, 
beriiig 
accideii 
iiig  in 
they  le 
iutendc 
be  mac 
Tlic  re 
A  Mr. 
wonuui 
a  niinii 
all  the 
the  boi- 
drink  11 
of  o\., 

Ovei 
the  Lik 
desohit 


PONTIAO'S  WAR. 


843 


been  massacred  or  enslaved.  No  less  than  nine  trading 
and  military  posts  were  destroyed.  01'  the  seizure  of  Mieh- 
ilimackinac,  next  to  Detroit  the  most  important  station  on 
the  lakes,  we  have  the  most  partieular  acecnint. 

Hundreds  of  Indians,  mostly  Chipjicwas  and  Sacs,  had 
been  loitering  about  the  jilacc  for  some  days  previous,  and 
on  the  4th  of  June  they  proeeeded  to  eelebrate  the  king's 
birthday  by  a  great  game  at  ball.  This  sport,  carried  on,  as 
usual,  with  noise  and  tumult,  threw  the  garrison  off  their 
guard,  at  the  same  time  that  it  uflbrded  a  pretext  for  clam- 
bering into  the  fort.  The  ball  was  several  times,  as  if  by 
accident,  knocked  witliin  the  pickets,  the  whole  gang  rusii- 
iiig  in  pursuit  of  it  Avith  shouta.  At  a  favorable  niomcut 
they  fell  upon  the  English,  dispersed  and  unsuspicious  of 
intended  harm,  and  before  any  effectual  resistance  could 
be  made,  murdered  and  scalped  seventy  of  the  number. 
Tlie  remainder,  l)cing  twenty  men,  were  taken  captive. 
A  Mr.  Ilenr}',  who,  by  the  good  oflices  of  a  Pawnee 
wonum,  was  concealed  in  the  house  of  a  Frenchman,  gives 
a  minute  detail  of  the  terrible  scene.  From  his  account, 
all  the  fury  of  the  savage  seems  to  have  been  aroused  in 
the  bosoms  of  the  assailants.  lie  avers  that  he  saw  them 
drinking  the  blood  of  their  mangled  victims  in  a  transport 


of  ex  uniting  rage 


Over  an  immense  district  of  country,  from  the  Ohio  to 
the  lakes,  the  outbreak  of  the  combined  nations  spread 
desolation  and  dismay. 


v^i:.. 


it 


■f 


:    Mi 


■  i  r 


V".41 


,::|>': 


''•  .!t 


.■■(1il 


;  I. 


II  iiiilit^'fJ 


■  ■  ,'v  ■ 


(      l> 


?  n 


■■'■    i!    '  f  ^W' 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


12.5 

1.8 


1.25      1.4      1.6 

■• 6"     

► 

V 


& 


/a 


Photographic 

Sdences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


^ 


^<^% 

^^4^ 

%  #^'^ 
'<°.^ 


^6 


Is 


;\ 


\ 


& 

^ 
^ 


c> 


►  *^- 


^ 


'4^ 


lr''t,'''-iV 


;.!;•!  |?^,;.;-:„f;;:r'p*l}: 


■;t''^-r 


844  INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 

■  o 
CHAPTER  II. 

SIEGE  OF  DETROIT — BATTLE  OF  BLOODY  BKIDGE. 

PoNTiAC  himself  turned  his  attention  to  the  reduction 
of  Detroit.  He  well  knew  that  a  rich  booty  awaited  him 
if  he  could  possess  himself  of  this  important  place,  and 
laid  his  plans  with  caution  and  care  suitable  to  the  magni- 
tude of  the  enterprise.  The  town  was  fortified  by  pickets 
and  block-houses,  and  contained  a  garrison  of  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty  men.  The  other  inhabitants  consisted  of 
only  a  few  traders. 

Pontiac's  intention  was  to  demand  a  conference  with 
Major  Gladwyn,  the  commandant,  taking  with  him  as  many 
of  his  warriors  as  could  obtain  admittance ;  and  at  a  given 
signal  to  fall  upon  and  kill  the  officers  of  the  garrison.  The 
work  of  destruction  was  to  be  completed  by  the  aid  of  his 
followers  from  without  the  fort.  Those  whom  he  had  cho- 
sen to  share  Avith  him  the  danger  of  the  first  onslaught, 
were  each  furnished  with  a  rifle,  having  the  barrel  so 
shortened  that  it  could  be  concealed  under  the  blanket 
usually  worn  by  an  Indian  as  his  outer  garment. 

The  account  generally  received  of  the  manner  in  which 
Major  Gladwyn  became  acquainted  with  the  plot,  and  of 
the  means  resorted  to  by  him  to  ward  off  the  danger,  is 
as  follows:  Poiitiac,  with  several  hundred  warriors,  pre- 
sented himself  without  the  camp,  and  requested  an  audi- 
ence. On  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  a  squaw  came  to 
deliver  to  the  Major  a  pair  of  moccasins  which  he  had 
engaged  her  to  make  from  an  elk-skin.  After  he  had 
praised  her  work,  paid  her  handsomely,  and  dismissed  her, 
with  directions  to  convert  the  rest  of  the  skin  into  similar 
articles,  she  continued  to  linger  about  the  premises,  appa- 
rently in  an  unsatisfied  frame  of  mind.  Her  answers  to 
those  who  questioned  her  were  so  singular,  particularly  a 


■(*  '..K  '«' 


:}:■'■>..'■.■'■  ^ 


PONTIAC'S  WAR. 


345 


hint  that  she  dropped  respecting  the  difficulty  she  should 
have  in  "bringing  the  skin  bacic,"  that  the  Major  exam- 
ined her  closely,  and  succeeded  in  obtaining  full  particu- 
lars of  the  impending  danger.  The  poor  woman,  affected 
by  his  kindness,  had  been  unwilling  to  see  her  patron  mur- 
dered, but  fear  of  the  vengeance  of  her  own  people,  or  a 
natural  feeling  of  interest  in  their  success,  had  restrained 
her  from  sooner  betraying  their  deadly  purpose. 

Through  the  night,  and  previous  to  the  morning's  con- 
ference, the  Indians  were  distinctly  heard  performing  their 
war-songs  and  dances ;  but  no  intimation  was  given  them 
of  any  suspicion,  and  the  party  deputed  for  the  grand  talk 
was  admitted  within  the  pickets.  Pontiac  saw  that  the 
garrison  was  under  arms,  and  he  at  once  asked  the  reason 
for  such  precautions.  The  major  represented  that  it  was 
merely  to  discipline  his  soldiers. 

The  Ottowa  chief  opened  the  council  with  a  hauglity 
and  threatening  speech,  and  was  about  to  give  the  signal 
for  attack — by  some  peciiliar  mode  of  delivering  a  wam- 
pum belt  to  the  commandant — when  a  sudden  change  in 
the  demeanor  of  the  English  quelled  and  discomposed  him. 
He  heard  the  drums  beat,  and  saw  every  soldier's  musket 
levelled,  and  the  swords  of  the  officers  drawn  and  ready  for 
use.  Major  Gladwyn,  stepping  to  the  warrior  nearest  him, 
lifled  his  blanket,  and  disclosed  the  shortened  rifle.  He 
then  upbraided  the  sachem  for  his  intended  villany,  and, 
taking  no  advantage  of  the  opportunity  for  securing  him, 
gave  proof  of  his  own  high-minded  sense  of  honor  by 
dismissing  the  whole  party  unharmed.  The  premeditated 
treachery  of  Pontiac  would  have  fully  justified  the  com- 
mandant in  taking  his  life,  had  he  deemed  it  necessary  for 
the  protection  of  himself  and  people. 

Immediately  subsequent  to  tlie  failure  of  this  undertak- 
ing, the  Indians  began  openly  to  attack  the  town.  They 
barbarously  murdered  a  Mrs.  Turnbell  and  her  two  sons, 


IS  I 


f  mm  'mWMlk 


^ 


Wi 


\h 


111. 


1 


m 


.;i 


I!  "i '  I 


W.'f 


"'H 


■  ■'  ^  .*' 


■;       t 


!'■  ' :  / 


Br  u      . ' 


•  1  ■', '  '' 


'•'v% 


■  •'    ,    A'    •• 

■ .  I.'  '  ' ' 


,'.  -i 


346 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


wlio  lived  a  short  distance  from  the  fort;  and  killed  or 
took  prisoners  the  occupants  of  an  establishment  belonging 
to  a  Mr.  James  Fisher,  still  further  up  the  river. 

From  five  hundred  to  a  thousand  Indians  were  now 
seen  collected  to  lay  siege  to  the  town.  The  condition  of 
the  garrison  appejired  perilous  in  the  extreme,  not  only 
from  the  insufficient  supply  of  provisions,  but  frona  the 
necessity  for  keeping  constant  watch  throughout  the  whole 
extent  of  the  stockade.  The  soldiers  were  wearied  by 
being  continually  on  duty,  by  the  loss  of  their  natural 
rest;  but  their  courage  and  S2)iint  aj^peared  to  be  unsub- 
dued, and  the  commandant  abandoned  his  first  intention 
of  evacuating  the  place.  The  French  who  were  residing 
in  Detroit  brought  about  a  negotiation,  but  Pontiac  insisted 
upon  the  surrender  of  the  town,  and  of  all  the  valuable 
goods  stored  there,  as  the  onl}''  condition  upon  Avhich  he 
would  discontinue  hostilities.  Tlie  major  was  equally 
determined  in  his  intention  of  maintaining  his  position. 

The  siege  commenced  early  in  May,  and  no  succor  or 
supplies  reached  the  garrison  for  more  than  a  month. 
About  the  end  of  May  an  attempt  had  been  made  to  land 
forces  and  provisions  by  boats  sent  from  Niagara,  but  the 
vigilance  of  the  Indians  rendered  it  abortive.  Many  of 
the  Englisli  were  slain,  and  numy  more  were  reserved  to 
glut  the  vengeance  of  tlie  savages,  at  the  stake. 

In  the  month  of  June,  a  vessel,  also  from  Niagara,  made 
her  way  up  the  river,  in  spite  of  the  attacks  of  the  Indians, 
Avho  exposed  their  lives  with  the  utmost  temerity  in  at- 
tempts to  board  her.  Fifty  soldiers  were  landed  at  the 
fort,  and  a  timely  supply  of  provision  gave  new  courage 
to  the  weary  garrison.  Mr.  Thatcher,  in  his  ''Indian 
Biography,"  gives  extracts  from  various  letters,  written 
from  the  fort  during  the  siege,  which  quaintly  enough 
portray  the  condition  of  its  inmates.  Wc  quote  the  follow- 
ing from  a  letter  of  July  9th  (1763): 


PONTIAC'S  WAR. 


347 


"  You  have  long  ago  heard  of  our  pleasant  Situation,  but 
j  the  storm  is  blown  over.  "Was  it  not  very  agreeable  to 
hear  every  Day  of  their  cutting,  carving,  boiling  and  eat- 
ing our  companions?  To  see  every  Day  dead  Bodies 
floating  down  the  River,  mangled  and  disfigured?  But 
Britons,  you  know,  never  shrink;  we  always  appeared 
gay  to  spite  the  Rascals.  They  boiled  and  eat  Sir  Robert 
Devers;  and  we  are  informed,  by  Mr.  Pauly,  Avho  escaped, 
the  other  Day,  from  one  of  the  Stations  surprised  at  the 
breaking  out  of  the  War,  and  commanded  by  himself,  that 
he  had  seen  an  Indian  have  the  Skin  of  Captain  Robert- 
son's arm  for  a  Tobacco-Pouch!" 

A  reinforcement  of  some  three  hundred  men,  under 
Captain  Daly  ell,  reached  Detroit  the  last  of  July.  Thus 
strengthened,  the  commander  deemed  it  advisable  to  make 
an  immediate  sally,  and,  if  possible,  break  up  the  Indian 
encampment.  Pontiac  heard  of  the  intended  movement, 
and  was  well  prepared  for  the  English  when  they  made 
their  sortie  in  the  evening.  So  deadly  and  unexpected 
was  the  fire  of  the  Indians,  who  lay  concealed  on  either 
side  of  the  path,  near  the  bridge  over  Bloody  Run,  that 
more  than  one  hundred  of  the  trooj^s  were  said  to  have 
been  killed  or  wounded. 

Subsequent  to  this  period  wc  have  no  reliable  history  of 
the  acts  of  the  great  sachem  of  the  Ottawas.  His  people 
hung  round  Detroit  until  the  ensuing  spring,  keeping  the 
inhabitants  in  continual  alarm.  The  strong  force  which 
was  led  into  the  western  country  by  General  Bradstreet  in 
the  early  part  of  the  summer  of  1764,  effectually  overawed 
and  quieted  the  hostile  Indians, 

Pontiac  is  said  to  have  been  assassinated  by  a  Peoria 
Indian,  in  the  English  interest,  while  attending  a  council  in 
1767.  Considerable  uncertainty,  however,  attends  the 
recital  of  the  latter  events  of  his  life,  and  of  the  causes 
which  led  to  his  death. 


■I  1^ 

i 

,r 

:  I. 


i 


t\  ^cmi  Mm 

4.i  ](J:i^''..  '■'■■'^■^'■kS 


f'-M,'''  ■! 


Vl  ■-'   '  K'  ■  '  -I 


f;  '?'  -t' 


r/:  • 


I.  ' 


IK''.: .'' '!  *■■ 


h>i'.*i 


[■■■■■;  s»  I"',  .t  '  ■■  ■   ' .. .  ■  '■  . 

F  ..  r>.  ',  ■  i  '  r  '  I'  '  ■ 


"■■('■" 


'fl':,  . ■ 


■>'>-j 


THE  DELAWARES,  SHAWANEES, 

AND  OTHER  TRIBES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  AND  WESTERN  STATES. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE    DELAWARES — WILLIAM    PENN — ST.   TAMMANY THE 

MORAVIANS — THE  SHAWN EES — FRENCH  AND  INDIAN 

WAR BRADDOCk's  DEFEAT MASSACRE  OF  THE 

CANESTOGA  INDIANS — DANIEL  BOONE. 

"  A  noble  rnoc !  but  they  are  gone 
With  their  old  forests  wide  and  deep, 
And  we  liave  built  our  homes  upon 
Fields  where  their  generation?  sleep." 

Bryant. 

Associated  with  the  early  history  of  the  Delawares  are 
thoughts  of  William  Penn,  and  of  his  peaceful  intercourse 
with,  and  powerful  influence  over,  the  wild  natives  with 
whom  he  treated.  At  the  first  settlement  of  the  country 
by  Europeans,  the  tribes  of  this  nation  occupied  no  small 
portion  of  the  present  state  of  Pennsylvania,  but  their 
principal  settlements  lay  between  the  Potomac  and  the 
Hudson.  Situated  between  the  great  northern  and  south- 
ern confederacies,  they  were  in  turn  at  enmity  and  engaged 
in  wars  with  either  party ;  but,  at  an  early  day,  they  were 
in  a  measure  subdued  and  reduced  to  a  state  of  inferiority 
by  the  Six  Nations. 

I^he  conduct  of  Penn  towards  the  Indians  has  ever  been 
spoken  of  witli  high  admiration;  and  we  are  assured  that 
his  care  for  their  interests,  and  anxi('t^•  to  secure  their 


EES, 

:rn  states. 


rtANY — THE 
D  INDIAN 
)F  THE 
B. 


I  Delawares  are 
jful  intercourse 
id  natives  with 
of  the  country 
upicd  no  small 
ania,  but  their 
)tomac  and  the 
iiern  and  south- 
ity  and  engaged 
day,  they  were 
ite  of  inferiority 

us  has  ever  been 

arc  assured  that 

to  secure  tlieir 


[g 


'^JjaiJji 


M  -iS 


m  I 


ml 


hUi) 


,iVo,:t': 


^^J'{* 


m 


'i  ^M 


*  a 


'MJ: 


m 


'<^^s 


*^'  "*■,. 


liM 


't    ■.:! 


.;  v! 


f 


■^'^S 


.1 .  -.^i" 


</>  .,  ("■.' .  t 


,■>!-•,  i 


!^^ 


I 


,  '.:K 


-N- 


:>S» 


r  i> 


W  U.I.I  tM    PKJV.V. 


THE  IJELAWARES,  SIIAWANEES,  ETC. 


849 


rights,  and  to  protect  them  from  wrongs  and  aggression, 
caused  Ins  name  to  be  idolized  among  the  Delawtires. 
Upon  obtaining  the  immense  grant  from  the  crown,  named 
Pennsylvania  at  the  time  of  its  bestowment,  his  first 
thought  was  to  draw  up  a  table  of  "conditions  and  con- 
cessions," for  the  government  of  those  who  should  adven- 
ture with  him  in  the  settlement  of  the  wilderness.  IIo 
expressly  stiinilated,  in  behalf  of  the  Indians,  that  their 
pci"sons  and  property  should  be  protected  by  the  san.e 
laws  and  penalties  as  those  of  the  whites ;  that  overreaehin  ^ 
in  trade  should  be  avoided  by  the  conduct  of  all  'oales  in 
market  overt;  that  a  jury  of  six  whites  and  six  Indians 
should  pass  upon  matters  in  dispute  between  individuals 
of  the  different  races;  and  that  the  interest  of  the  Indian 
should  bo  made  the  special  care  of  every  magistrate. 

In  the  autumn  of  1682,  Penn  came  over  from  England 
to  regulate  his  new  colony,  and  especially  to  confirm  the 
friendly  relations  existing  with  the  Indians  inhabiting  his 
territory.  In  Clarkson's  Memoirs  of  Penn,  the  following 
mention  is  made  of  liis  grand  treaty  with  these  native  pro- 
prietors. From  religious  scruples,  he  did  not  consider  his 
claim,  by  virtue  of  the  king's  grant,  to  be  valid  without 
the  assent  of  the  occupants,  and  he  determined  to  make 
honorable  purchases  of  all  that  he  should  require.  Ar- 
rangements had  been  made,  by  commissioners,  previous 
to  Penn's  arrival,  for  a  great  meeting,  for  the  purpose  of 
ratifying  the  proposed  sale.  "He  proceeded,  therefore, 
(at  the  appointed  time,)  accompanied  by  his  friends,  con- 
sisting of  men,  women,  and  young  persons  of  both  sexes, 
to  Coaquannoc,  the  Indian  name  for  the  place  where 
Philadelphia  now  stands.  On  his  arrival  there,  he  found 
the  sachems  and  their  tribes  assembling.  They  were  seen 
in  the  woods,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  carry,  and  looked 
frightful,  both  on  account  of  their  number  and  their  arms. 
The  Quakers  are  reported  lo  have  been  but  a  handful  in 


:u 


I 


'''■'t''   'jt'''   *,;"■'■  -'■'>*&'" 


850 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMKUICA. 


comparison,  and  tlieso  without  any  weapon — so  tliat  dis- 
may and  terror  had  conic  upon  them,  hud  they  not  con- 
fided in  the  rigliteousncss  of  their  cause." 

The  conference  took  phacc  upon  the  site  afterwards 
occupied  by  the  town  of  Kensington,  a  few  miles  above 
Pliiladelphia,  and  called,  by  the  Indians,  Shackermaxon. 
"There  was,  at  Shackermaxon,  an  elm-tree  of  prodi-ii)u.s 
bIzc.  To  this  the  leaders,  on  both  sides,  repaired,  a]){)roacli- 
ing  each  other  under  its  widely-spreading  branches." 
Penn  wore  no  ornament,  or  symbol  of  authority,  except  a 
blue  sash.  Standing  up  before  the  assembly,  he  directed 
the  articles  of  merchandize  brought  for  the  purchase,  to  be 
spread  before  him,  and,  displaying  the  engrossed  co\)y  of 
the  treaty,  awaited  the  movements  of  the  Indian  chiefs. 

"One  of  the  sachems,  who  was  Chief  among  them,  put 
upon  his  own  head  a  kind  of  chaplet,  in  which  there  ap- 
jjcared  a  small  horn.  This,  as  among  the  primitive  Kasteni 
nations,  and,  according  to  scripture  language,  was  an  em- 
blem of  kingly  power.  *  *  Upon  putting  on  this  horn, 
the  Indians  threw  down  their  bows  and  arrows,  and  seated 
themselves  round  their  chiefs,  in  the  form  of  a  half-moon 
upon  the  ground." 

The  inter})reter  now  announced  the  readiness  of  the 
chiefs  to  listen,  and  Penn  proceeded  to  read  and  explain 
the  provisions  of  the  treaty.  He  premised  that  he  and  his 
people  used  no  warlike  implements,  but  that  all  their 
desire  Avas  for  peace  and  concord.  By  the  articles  of 
agreement,  the  Indians  were  to  be  allowed  to  retain  })os- 
session,  for  all  needful  purposes,  even  of  the  laud  sold, 
and  jjarticuhir  spccilication:-!  were  inserted,  touching  tiie 
manner  in  which  their  rights  should  be  enforced. 

He  then  made  the  stipulated  payments;  distributed  ad- 
ditional presents;  and,  laying  the  parchment  on  the  ground, 
proceeded  to  say  that  "he  would  not  do  as  the  Maryland- 
ers  did,  that  is,  call  them  Children  or  Brothers  only;  foi 


Il 


TIIK  UELAWAUES,  SIIAW.VNEES,  ETC. 


851 


often  Parents  were  apt  to  whip  tlieir  children  too  severely, 
anil  Brothers  souietinios  would  dill'er:  neither  would  he 
compare  the  Friendship  between  him  and  them  to  a  Chain, 
for  the  rain  might  sometimes  rust  it,  or  a  tree  might  fall 
and  break  it;  but  he  should  consider  them  as  the  same 
llosh  and  blood  with  the  Christians,  and  the  same;  as  if  one 
niiui's  body  were  to  be  divided  into  two  parts."  Handing 
the  parchment  to  the  chief  sachem,  Penn  then  desired  him 
and  his  associates  "to  preserve  it  carefully  for  three  gen- 
erations, that  their  children  might  know  what  had  passed 
between  them,  just  as  if  he  had  r'^maincd  himself  with 
them  to  repeat  it.  *  *  'This,' says  Voltaire,  'was  the 
only  treaty  between  those  people  and  the  Christians  that 
was  not  ratified  by  an  oath,  and  that  never  was  broken.' " 

After-accounts  of  the  Indians,  as  given  by  Penn  and  his 
associates,  in  which  the  estimable  points  of  native  charac- 
ter are  pleasingly  [jortrayed,  contrast  strangely  with  the 
maledictions  and  bitter  expressions  of  hatred  which  too 
many  of  the  early  chroniclers  heap  upon  their  Indian  ene- 
mies. Never  was  a  truer  saying  than  the  Spanish  proverb, 
"he  who  has  injured  you  will  never  forgive  you." 

The  name  by  which  these  Indians  have  ever  been  desig- 
nated, was  bestowed  upon  them  by  the  English,  from 
Lord  De  la  War :  in  their  own  tongue  they  were  called  the 
Lenni  Lenape,  (Original  People,)  as  the  chief  and  principal 
stock  from  which  mankind  in  general  had  sprung. 

Conspicuous  among  the  traditions  of  the  I3elawares 
appears  the  name  of  their  old  chief  Tamanend,  or  '^l\im- 
many.  We  have  no  very  specific  accounts  of  the  history 
of  this  renowned  sachem,  but  the  veneration  with  which 
the  Indians  recounted  his  wisdom  and  virtues  served  to 
raise  his  character  so  high  with  the  colonists  that  he  was, 
in  a  manner,  canonized.  The  "Home  Journal,"  of  June 
12th,  1852,  makes  the  following  mention  of  the  singular 
respect  paid  to  his  memory : 


■'"^tlKf 


/' t' •  biff  ^•^i 


852 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  ^MPMIICA. 


"St.  Tainniivtiy  is,  \vc  believe,  our  only  American  Saint. 
llo  was  the  ehicf'of  an  radian  tribe  which  inhabited  Penn- 
sylvania, while  that  .state  was  still  a  colony,  and  exciteil 
so  much  respect  by  his  virtues  and  exploits,  Ix^th  amonj,' 
the  white  and  red  men,  that,  aCter  his  death,  he  was  can- 
oni/ed,  and  the  day  of  his  birth,  the  finst  of  May,  regarded 
an  a  holiday. 

" '  All  Christian  countries,'  says  the  Savannah  Republican, 
'have  their  tutelar  saint.  Knghind  has  her  St.  Cu'orgo; 
Scotland  her  St.  Andrew;  Ireland  her  St.  Patrick;  Kraiicc 
her  St.  Crispan;  and  S])ain  her  St.  Jago.  In  this  country 
wc  have  St.  Tammany.  Throughout  the  llevolutionary 
War,  the  natal-day  (»f  this  saint  was  ob.served  with  great 
respect,  by  the  army  as  wi'U  as  by  the  people.  It  wjus  nut 
till  Mr.  Jefterson's  administration,  when  (leneral  Dearborn 
was  Secretary  of  War,  that  the  observance  of  it  by  the 
army  was  dispensed  with,  and  the  change  was  made  tlien 
only  with  the  view  of  carrying  out  the  .system  of  retrench- 
ment which  the  ])resideut  sought  to  introduce  in  tlio 
administration  of  the  government.  The  lirst  fort  built  at 
St.  Mary's,  Camden  county,  and  j)erhaps  the  lirst  fort  in 
the  state,  was  called  Fort  St.  Tanunany.  A  gentleniau 
now  residing  in  this  city  was  present,  while  a  boy,  at  a 
celebration,  by  the  officers  and  soldiers  stationed  at  the  fort, 
of  St.  Tammany's-day.  The  May-pole  used  on  this  occa- 
sion was  a  tree,  with  its  branches  and  bai'k  removed;  and 
around  that  the  soldiers  danced  and  celebrated  the  day.'"' 

It  was  among  the  Delavvares  that  one  of  the  most  inter- 
esting commuaities  of  Christian  Indians  ever  existing  iu 
America,  was  established  by  the  efforts  of  the  Moravian 
mission.  The  venerable  Count  Zinzendorf,  David  Zeis- 
berger,  and  John  Ileckcwelder,  were  zealous  and  i)r(inii- 
nent  partakers  in  the  work  of  converting  and  instructing 
the  Indians.  From  Ileckcwelder  we  have  received  mncli 
minute  and  interesting  detail  of  the  habits  of  the  pco|i!e 


^^j-:-' 


i 


ill  liopvil)lk';in, 
jr  St.  G(M)rge; 
itrit'k ;  Friiucc 
11  this  I'ouiitry 
Hi!vc)liitii)iiary 
red  with  great 
li\  It  wius  nut 
leral  Deurborn 

0  of  it  by  the 
vas  inadL'  then 
nn  of  retrench- 
rodiico  in  \\\i; 
'st  fort  buiU  lit 
10  first  fort  ill 

A  gentleniiin 
0  a  boy,  at  a 
nod  at  ti  10  fort, 

1  on  this  oeca- 
roinoved;  and 
ted  the  day."" 
the  most  inter- 
rer  existing  in 

tlie  Moravian 
f,  David  Zeis- 
us  and  pruini- 
nd  instnieting 
reeoivod  nnuli 

of  the  people 


(t)/..    uy.onay.    ii  i  s  n  ixaro.v. 


i 


H 


!'''ir« 


•J  I.  4 

'i'f,' 


;;'■■,  ?3n 


l-^Sj 


■% 

'"i^' 


.  ■,  , 

m 

' '"  ' 

.^r.'i(  !,> 


f/ 


n--' 


■■■>::,, 


THE  DEL  AWAKES,  SHAWANEES,  ETC. 


353 


among  whom  lie  labored,  and  the  humanizing  and  endur- 
ing influence  of  Christian  doctrine,  enforced  by  good 
example  on  the  part  of  its  preachers. 

The  circumstances  under  which  the  missionary  work 
was  carried  on,  were  extremely  adverse.  During  the  long 
and  bloody  French  and  Indian  wars,  every  tale  of  border 
cruelties  and  massacre,  connnitted  by  the  savages,  would 
instantly  arouse  a  spirit  of  retaliation  against  the  whole 
race,  which  frequently  resulted  in  the  most  brutal  outrages 
against  the  peaceful  Moravian  Indians.  A  population  of 
lawless  whites  inhabited  the  border  country,  whom  Hccke- 
welder  mildly  rebukes  in  the  following  terms: 

"I  have  yet  to  notice  a  class  of  people  generally  known 
to  us  by  the  name  of  'backwoods-men,'  many  of  whom, 
acting  up  to  a  pretended  belief,  that  'an  Indian  has  no 
more  soul  than  a  buftalo;'  and  that  to  kill  either  is  the 
same  thing;  have,  from  time  to  time,  by  their  conduct, 
brought  great  trouble  and  bloodshed  on  the  country. 
Such  then  I  wish  to  cautiDii,  not  to  sport  in  that  manner 
with  the  lives  of  G(jd's  creatures.  *  *  *  *  Believe  that 
a  time  will  come  when  you  must  account  for  such  vile 
deeds  1  When  those  who  have  fallen  a  sacrifice  to  your 
wickedness,  will  be  called  forth  in  judgment  against  you! 
nay,  when  your  own  descendants  will  testify  against  yoiij' 


The  Shawanees  were  a  very  extensive  and  warlike  tribe. 
They  were,  according  to  Indian  tradition,  originally  from 
the  south,  having  inhabited  the  country  in  the  vicinity  of 
Savannah,  in  Georgia,'  and  a  portion  of  West  Florida. 
Being  engaged  in  continual  war  with  the  Creeks  and  other 
southern  nations,  and  being  of  an  adventurous  and  roving 
disposition,  they  finally  emigrated  northward,  and  were 
received  upon  terms  of  friendship  by  the  Delawares. 
They  settled  in  Western  Pennsylvania,  extending  them- 
23 


^ 


9^  i':ii 


M^ 


■  V  ■  t  ■; 


4', 


,1) 


,'    '-•  .:•■'; IS- ?<' 

■  •'  -^ii,^'  .&i"''V  !">*,.'**  i 
.-.'l    ''itsiil  .''*/.  v'-^v  '  ■ 

•  -M 

''  '■'>«! 

K'MM  ■) 

■■  ''il'S< 

•'. .;.'  'Mi 


y-7  ^yfTifMZ'l 


^=n 


354 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


selves  gradually  fartlier  west,  and  mingling  Avitli  other 
neighboring  nations.  Their  head-quarters  were,  in  early 
times,  not  far  from  Pittsburgh.  In  their  new  homes  they 
pi'ospered  and  increased,  and  long  remained  one  of  tlic 
most  formidable  nations  of  the  west.  They  united  with 
the  Delawares  in  hostilities  against  the  southern  tribes. 

In  after-times,  thrilling  legends  of  war  and  massacre  in 
"the  dark  and  bloody  ground,"  and  throughout  the  west- 
ern border,  attest  the  active  and  dangerous  spirit  of  this  war- 
like and  implacable  tribe.  In  the  French  and  Indian  wars, 
and  in  the  long  struggle  which  resulted  in  our  national 
independence,  they  were  so  mingled  with  other  western 
tribes  that  we  shall  not  attempt  to  distinguish  them,  nor 
shall  we  devote  that  space  to  the  bi(igra})hy  of  many  of 
their  chiefs  and  warriors  which  their  prowess  might  de- 
mand in  a  more  extended  work.  We  shall  give,  in  tluir 
order,  some  of  tlie  inore  celebrated  Indian  cani})aigiis  at 
the  west,  with  various  incidents  connected  with  the  iirst 
settlement  of  the  ^\estern  states. 

About  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century,  the  Frcncli, 
as  already  mentioned,  had,  in  strengthening  their  cordon 
of  posts  between  their  settlements  in  Canada  and  IajiiIs- 
iana,  formed  alliance  with  many  Indian  tribes  to  wliom 
tliey  were  brought  in  pro.\;imit\\  Their  nearest  and  most 
dangerous  ap})roach  to  tlie  Knglish  estalilislinients,  was  in 
the  erection  of  the  niihtary  stronghold  called  Foi't  Dn- 
quesne  at  the  confluence  of  the  Alleghany  and  Monoii,L:;a- 
liela.  In  tl  itempt  to  dislodge  them  from  this  ])ost  tlio 
military  talents  of  George  Washington  were  first  exhibited. 
After  distinguishing  himself  b}'  his  bravery  and  prudenci^ 
in  contests  with  the  Indians  and  French,  which,  owing  to 
an  insufliciency  of  force,  resulted  in  nothing  decisive  or 
materially  advantageous,  ho  Avas  attached  to  the  ])owcrful 
army  under  General  Braddoek,  in  the  capacity  of  aid-de- 
camp to  the  commanding  oflicer. 


\!'^  : 


I 


THE  DELAWARES,  SIIAWANEES,  ETC. 


855 


With  a  force  of  more  tliiin  two  thousand  men,  besides 
some  Indian  alUes,  the  British  general  set  systematically 
about  the  reduction  of  the  French  iurt.  Leaving  a  large 
body  of  troojis  under  Colonel  Dunbar,  at  Great  Meadows, 
he  marched  in  compact  military  array  to  the  attack.  No 
one  doubts  the  courage  of  General  Braddock,  or  his  capa- 
city to  have  conducted  a  campaign  in  an  open  and  inhabited 
country,  but  his  dogmatic  obstinacy  and  adherence  to  es- 
tablished tactics  proved,  upon  this  occasion,  the  destruction 
of  himself  and  his  army. 

When  Washington,  tlien  only  twenty-two  years  of  age, 
respectfully  rei)rescntccl  to  liis  superior  the  danger  of  an 
exposed  march  through  a  country  like  tliat  they  were  trav- 
ersing, and  suggested  the  ncecssily  for  providing  a  sufficient 
party  of  scouts  iicquainted  with  the  locality,  to  guard 
against  surprise,  he  was  insultingly  checked  by  the  ejacu- 
lation: "High  times!  higli  times!  when  a  young  Buck- 
skin teaclies  a  British  general  how  to  fight." 

It  was  on  the  9th  of  July,  1755,  that  the  engagement 
took  j)lace.  Captain  Contracctnir,  who  had  command  of 
the  fort,  had  obtained  iiiforniation  of  the  advance  upon 
tlie  previous  da\',  and  dispatched  M.  de  Beaujeu,  with  all 
the  troops  he  couhl  muster,  to  meet  the  enemy,  llis  whole 
avaihible  force  consisted  of  from  five  hundred  to  one  thou- 
sand men,  of  whom  the  majority  were  Indians,  but  a 
knowledge  of  the  ground,  and  the  gross  error  of  the  Eng- 
lish commander,  more  than  compensated  for  the  disi)anty 
in  numbers  and  discipline.  An  ambush  was  formed  where 
a  ravine  led  from  a  plain  into  a  high  wooded  piece,  of 
ground.  The  advancing  column  had  no  sooner  penetrated 
into  this  defde  than  the  attack  commenced. 

A  most  ap})alling  carnage  ensued:  the  Indians,  firing 
from  covert  upon  the  closely  marshalled  ranks  of  the 
regulars,  soon  threw  them  into  utter  confusion.  M.  Beau- 
jeu, was,  indeed,  killed  at  the  first  onset,  but  his  lieuten- 


U 


f 


!'i 


h^rx 


.'.'',-)■ 


1   ,/!.■.   '■,'•,,1'.    '« 


'.■•■'.■    ■>.; 


/,     ^ 


>"  f  ! 


856 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AMERICA. 


ant,  Dumas,  continued  to  insj)ire  his  troops,  and  cheer  them 
on  to  their  now  easy  victory.  A  complete  rout  ensued, 
and  the  Indians,  rushing  from  their  places  of  concealment, 
fell  upon  the  panic-stricken  fugitives  with  their  deadly 
tomahawks.  The  Virginians  alone  proved  in  any  degree 
effective  in  resisting  the  enemy  and  covering  the  disor- 
derly retreat.  The  loss,  on  the  part  of  the  British,  in 
killed,  wounded  and  prisoners,  was  not  far  from  eight 
hund'od.  All  the  artillery  and  baggage  fe^^  into  the  hands 
of  the  French,  who,  with  their  Indian  allies,  remained  in 
undisputed  possession  of  the  field. 

Falling  back  upon  Colonel  Dunbar's  reserve,  instead  of 
making  a  renewed  stand,  the  whole  army  continued  a 
precipitate  retreat  into  Virginia.  In  this  action  must  of 
the  Virginia  troops,  who,  adopting  the  Indian  manner  of 
warfare,  betook  themselves  to  sheltered  positions  when  the 
fight  commenced,  fell  victims  to  their  constancy  and  brave- 
ry. Colonel  Washington  had  not  fully  recovered  from 
a  severe  attack  of  illness  at  the  time  and  was  with  great 
difhculty  able  to  undergo  the  fatigues  incident  to  his  po- 
sition, lie  had  two  horses  shot  under  him,  and  receivo'l 
four  bullets  through  his  coat,  but  escaped  from  tlie  con- 
flict unwounded.  General  Braddock  died  a  few  days  after, 
of  a  wound  in  the  lungs. 


The  Delawarcs,  and  more  especially  the  Sliawanees,  were 
implicated  in  the  extensive  consjiiracy  excited  by  tlie  re- 
nowned Pontiac,  in  the  year  1763.  It  was  in  this  year 
that  a  cruel  and  disgraceful  outrage  was  j)erpetrate(l  u])oii 
a  peaceful  community  of  Indians  at  Canestoga,  near  Lan- 
caster. No  sooner  had  news  of  Indian  murders  and  rav- 
ages been  sj)read  among  the  white  settlements,  than  a 
determination  was  evinced  by  certain  miscreants  to  de- 
stroy these  harmless  people,  upon  suspicion  or  j)retence 


THE  DELAWARES,  SIIAWANEES,  ETC. 


857 


that  tliey  were  concerned,  in  some  way,  in  the  recent 
border  ontrages. 

The  Canestoga  Indians  were  few  in  number,  and  per- 
fectly peaceful  and  inoll'ensive.  They  had  inhabited  the 
same  little  settlement  for  more  than  a  century,  and,  accord- 
ing to  licckcvvelder,  "  their  ancestors  had  been  among 
those  who  had  welcomed  William  Penn,  on  his  first  ar- 
rival in  this  country ;  presenting  him,  at  the  time,  with 
venison,  &:c." 

In  the  month  of  November,  (1763,)  fifty-seven  white 
savages  started  from  Paxton  to  destroy  this  establishment. 
They  murdered  all  whom  they  could  find,  to  the  number 
of  fourteen,  of  every  age  and  sex:  the  remainder  (fifteen 
or  twenty)  esca})cd  to  Lancaster,  and  were  locked  up,  for 
safety,  in  the  jail.  Hither  the  "Paxton  boys,"  as  they 
were  termed,  pursued  the  poor  creatures,  and,  breaking 
into  the  inclosure,  brutally  massacred  the  whole  of  them. 
The  following  is  extracted  from  the  letter  of  an  eye-wit- 
ness to  this  transaction. 

"  *  "'^'  I  ran  into  the  jirison-j-ard,  and  there,  0  what  a 

liorrid  siuht  presented   iLsclf  to  mv  view!! Near  the 

back  door  of  the  prison,  lay  an  old  Indian  and  his  squaw, 
(wife,)  particularly  well  known  and  esteemed  by  the  peo- 
ple of  the  town,  on  account  of  his  j)lacid  and  friendly 
conduct.  His  name  was  Will  Sock;  across  him  and  his 
yipiaw  lay  two  children  of  about  the  age  of  three  years, 
whose  heads  were  split  with  the  tonudiawdc,  and  their 
scalps  all  taken  oil'.  Towards  the  middle  of  the  gaol-j'ard, 
along  the  west  side  of  the  wall,  lay  a  stout  Indian,  whom 
I  i)articularly  noticed  to  have  been  shot  in  the  breast,  his 
legs  were  chopped  with  the  tomahawk,  his  hands  cut  off, 
and  flnally  a  rifle-ball  discharged  in  his  mouth;  so  that 
his  head  was  blown  to  atoms,  and  the  brains  were  splashed 
against,  and  yet  hanging  to  the  wall,  for  three  or  four  feet 
around.  *  *  In  this  manner  lay  the  whole  of  them,  men, 


■>>n,--ym 


,.     '.■.''■■:<!  ?''Ti 

•  ;.     :  ■•  ;■    '■'>'V  ^ 
,  -.I.  ,  i-T    :;    ■5;,  ••K{5 

'"■■■■:■' :■■■;'"  <^^ 

.    .1    I   :.•■    ■>!  fi   ■}■•■,  ■  S't 
','.  •>    ■■,'  '^  '    ;■•' '     ■"  f' 


T^ 


>i.  ^'ii  ■'■;: 


'y'l, 


'"-^:^; 


858 


INDIAN   RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


women  and  children,  spread  about  tlic  prison-yard:  sliot — 
scalped — hacked — and  cut  to  pieces." 

The  events  of  Cresap's  war,  iu  which  the  Shawances  and 
Delawares  were  so  largely  concerned,  have  been  already 
briefly  described,  in  connection  with  the  history  of  the 
Iroquois.  After  the  great  battle  at  Point  Pleasant,  in  which 
they  and  their  allies  were  defeated,  a  short  cessation  of 
hostilities  between  thein  and  the  colonists  ensued.  The 
breaking  out  of  the  revolutionary  war  revived  old  ani- 
mosities, and  suggested  new  motives  for  contention.  The 
Shawanees  were  early  won  over  to  espouse  the  British 
interests :  the  division  of  the  Delawares  upon  the  question 
will  be  hereafter  explained. 

The  best  information  handed  down  to  us  concerning  the 
Shawanees,  at  this  period,  is  to  be  found  in  the  adventures 
of  the  bold  pioneer,  Daniel  Boon.  Impatient  of  the  re- 
straints or  competitions  of  an  inhabited  country,  and  led 
by  a  roving,  adventurous  spirit,  and  by  an  enthusiastic 
admiration  of  the  beauties  and  grandeur  of  the  unsettled 
western  wilderness,  he  forced  his  way  into  the  trackless 
solitudes  of  Kentucky,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  a  settle- 
ment whose  growth  and  ])rosperity  are  almost  unparalleled. 

On  the  8th  of  February,  1778,  Boone  was  taken  jirisoiier 
b}'-  a  strong  force  of  these  Indians,  then  on  tlieir  mairli 
against  the  settlement  at  Boonesborough.  He  was  carried 
to  their  principal  town.  Old  Chilicothe,  on  the  Little 
Miami,  and  there  had  abundant  opportunity  for  ob.serving 
their  native  peculiarities  and  usages.  His  character,  some- 
what analogous  to  that  of  Captain  John  Smith,  licnjaniiii 
Church,  and  others,  noted  for  their  successes  with  the 
Indians,  was  bold,  frank,  and  fearless.  Men  of  such  nature 
and  disposition,  however  rude  and  uncultivated,  arc  always 
the  best  able  to  conciliate  the  affections,  as  well  as  exercise 
control  over  the  minds  of  savages. 

Boone's  captors  took  such  a  liking  to  him  that  they 


■  <  »    .     •■      ■    ■  i" 


'ard:  sliot — 


THE  DELAWAKES,  S1IAWANEE8,  ETC. 


359 


positively  refused  to  deliver  liim  up  to  the  English,  at 
Detroit,  whitiier  he  was  conveyed  with  his  companions. 
Leaving  the  rest  of  their  pi'isoncrs  at  that  post,  they  took 
lam  back  to  Chilicothc,  refusing  the  governor's  offer  of  one 
hundred  pounds  if  they  would  part  with  their  favorite. 
The  king  of  the  tribe  treated  Boone  with  great  courtesy 
and  respect,  and  he  had  no  reason  to  complain  of  his  ac- 
commodations, as  he  enjoyed  Avhatever  comforts  were 
Avithia  the  reach  of  his  masters.  He  was  adopted  into  a 
family,  according  to  the  usual  Indian  custom;  in  which 
position  he  says:  "I  became  a  son,  and  had  a  great  share 
in  the  affection  of  my  new  parents,  brothers,  sisters,  and 
friends.  I  was  exceedingly  familiar  and  friendly  with 
them,  always  a})[)earing  as  cheerful  and  satisfied  as  possi- 
ble, and  they  put  great  coniidence  in  me." 

His  captivity  lasted  until  the  month  of  June,  when,  re- 
turning from  a  salt-making  excursion,  on  the  Scioto,  he 
found  four  luuidred  and  fifty  Shawanee  warriors,  collected 
with  arms  and  war-paint,  and  bc^und  on  an  expedition 
against  Booaesborough.  This  incited  him  to  attempt  an 
csca})e,  that  he  might  forewarn  the  settlement  of  the  intent. 
He  fled  a  little  before  day,  on  the  16th,  and  made  the 
journey,  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  miles,  supported  by  a 
single  meal. 

Tlie  bold  and  astonishing  defence  of  the  little  fort  at 
Boonesborough,  in  the  month  of  August,  against  a  large 
force  of  Indians,  accompanied  by  certain  Frenchmen,  is 
sinii)ly  and  unostentatiously  described  in  the  auto-biography 
of  this  redoubted  ]noneer.  The  enemy,  after  a  siege  of 
twelve  days,  in  which  every  expedient  of  force  and  treach- 
ery failed  to  dislodge  the  garrison,  were  forced  to  retire 
without  effecting  their  purpose.  One  of  their  stratagems 
was  as  follows:  A  treaty  was  proposed  by  the  assailants, 
and  after  the  articles  were  drawn  up,  in  front  of  the  fort, 
and  formally  signed,  in  the  words  of  the  narrative:  "the 


•I 


*   ,7/"  '  >.■ 


'r^: 


:y-'m 


"1, 


860 


INDIAN    RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


)  1.,'  ' 

■  *  "      *■  *<    . 


>     I 


Indians  told  us  it  was  customary  witli  them  on  such  occa- 
sions for  two  Indians  to  sluikc  liands  Avitli  every  wliitc 
man  on  tlie  treaty,  as  an  evidence  of  entire  friendsliip. 
We  agreed  to  tliis,  but  were  soon  convinced  tlieir  policy 
was  to  take  us  jirisoners,  They  immediately  grapj)led  us; 
but,  thougli  surrounded  by  liuiidrcMls  of  savages,  we  extri- 
cated ourselves  from  them,  and  es('ai)ed  idl  safe  into  the 
garrison,  cxeejit  one  that  was  wounded,  through  a  lieavv 
fire  from  their  army." 

Boone  took  a  prominent  part  in  many  of  the  contests 
which  ])reeeded  the  quiet  occupation  of  the  land  of  his 
choice,  and  underwent  toils,  dangers,  and  jtrivations  sel- 
dom awarded  to  any  one  man;  but  he  lived  to  enjoy  the 
i'ruits  of  his  labors.  An  old  Indian,  upon  the  occasion  of 
one  of  the  more  important  treaties  of  cession,  after  signing 
the  articles,  took  l?oone  by  the  hand,  saying:  "Brother, 
we  have  given  you  a  fine  land,  but  I  believe  you  will  have 
nmch  trouble  in  settling  it."  The  old  settler  adds,  sj)eak- 
ingof  tlie  former  ajipellation  bestowed  on  this  "debateable 
ground'':  "My  H)otsteps  have  often  been  marked  with 
blood,  and  therefore  I  can  truly  subscribe  to  its  original 
name.  Two  darling  sons  and  a  brother  have  T  lost  ly 
savage  hands.  *  *  Many  dark  and  sleei)less  nights 
have  I  been  a  eomiianiou  for  owls,  separated  from  the 
cheerful  society  of  men,  seorehe(l  by  the  sunmier's  smi, 
and  pinched  by  the  wintcjr's  cold — an  instrument  oi-dained 
to  settle  the  wilderness.  But  now  the  scene  is  changed: 
peace  crowns  the  sylvan  shade." 


:inn- " 


-ri;^:,:, 


»         I    l<V''. 


',.«.  ; 


i 


:i^ 


'•    ■    ''■:^:'. 


J     '■ 


BORDKR     EA'COUfi'TER. 


ffl! 

f 

1 

It ' 

m 
■    1 

11 

HI  \ 

■ 

1 

¥m 


TK.IPI'lJVn     THE     BK^R. 


TlIK  DELAWAUEri,  HIIAWANKES,  ETC.  tJOl 


C  II  APT  Kit    11. 

D^'!SlnN    OF   THE    DK.r.A  WAKJ'.S — WHITR-KYI'S,  AND    PIl'R — INDIAN 

coNKi;ni:iiAcv  of  IT-^l — attatk  on  iikyant'.s  station,  and 

BATTI.K  NKAH  TIIK  HM'K  MCKS — CKNKIl AI,  fLAKKIc's  EX- 

PEDITION — lUSASTHOUSCAMrAKiNS  OV  IIAUMAll  AND 

ST.  CI.AIK — MIMTAHY  OI'EIIATIONS  OK  GENKKAL 

WAYNE — DECISIVE    HATTI-E    NEAIl    THE 

MAirMKK  IIAI'IDS,  AMt  .SI'MSKiJUKNT 
TKKATY  OF  I'EACE. 

"Tlicy  wiihIi'  lis — :iy — liko  April  snow 
III  the  \v;irm  inioii,  wc  sliiiiik  iiwiiy; 

Anil  tiist  tlu'V  tollmv  ns  we  fro 

Towards  tin-  st'ttiiiif  day — 
Till  they  HJiall  till  the  laii.l.  and  wi' 

Art'  driven  into  llio  wi'stcrn  sea." 

UUVANT. 

As  llic  sottk'incnts  of  the  KuroponnH  ponthun'(l  to  in- 
crciLso,  tilt'  IVlawaivs  f^riiduiilly  rt'inoved  IVum  tlieir  old 
qu!irt(;rs,  on  tlu"  i-ivci"  jiiid  ba}'  Avhit'h  l)oar  tlicir  )iaiiH\  to 
till!  wilderness  of  the  west.  No  small  portion  oCthe  tribe 
was,  at  the  breakiiiLT  out  of  the  revolutionary  ^var,  settlecl 
in  Ohio,  on  the  banks  oi'the  Aruskinguni,  and  in  the  adja- 
cent oountrv. 

Kvery  influence  was  brouj.dit  to  bear,  by  the  Enj^lish 
emissaries  among  the  Delawarcs,  to  intbiec  them  to  take 
lip  the  hatchet  against  the  rt^bellious  AiiKM'icans.  The 
elVort  was,  in  part,  succ(>ssf\il :  a  large  jiarty,  heaik>d  by  the 
celebrated  Captain  I'ipe,  a  chief  of  the  Wolf  tribe,  declared 
for  the  king,  while  those  inclined  to  jicaee  and  neutrality, 
or  whose  sympatliies  Avere  on  the  side  of  the  colonies,  re- 
mained under  the  guidance  of  Koguethagechton — Anglice, 
Cai>taiu  White-Eyes.  The  disasters  and  perplexities  in 
Avhicli  the  nation  wafi  involved  by  such  a  divi.sion  might 


}' 

'  IH»  - 

1 

'Q% 

*    -  14 '  • 

'*fk      ' 

.V|f         '. 

"l 

1  > ' 

•  •(.' , 


r.'> 


.::|>- 
!:1'. 


■"^^^'i\. 


362 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


readily  be  foreseen.  Botli  the  opposing  leaders  were  men 
of  talent,  energ}',  and  br.klncss,  and  each  was  heart  and 
soul  enlisted  in  the  cause  to  which  he  had  united  himself 

It  is  recorded  of  White-Eyes  that,  early  in  the  war,  he 
met  with  a  de])utation  of  the  Scnecas,  (then,  as  we  have 
seen,  in  the  English  interest,)  and  boldly  avowed  his  own 
Oj)inion.  In  reply  to  the  old  taunt,  thrown  out  by  one  of 
the  Iroquois,  of  former  subjection  and  humiliation,  the 
chief  broke  forth  indignantl}^ :  "I  know  well  that  you 
consider  us  a  conquered  nation — as  women — as  your  infe- 
riors. You  have,  say  you,  shortened  our  legs,  and  put 
l)ettieoats  on  us!  You  say  you  have  given  us  a  lioc  and 
a  corn-pounder,  and  told  us  to  plant  and  pound  for  you — 
yon  men,  yon  tcarnursf  But  look  at  ?/ie.  Am  I  not  full- 
grown,  and  have  I  not  a  warrior's  dress?  Ay,  I  am  a 
man,  and  these  arc  the  arms  of  a  man, — and  all  that 
country  (pointing  towards  the  Alleghany)  on  the  other 
side  of  the  water,  is  mineP^  AVhite-Eyes  Avas  sigiiiilly 
successful  in  his  efforts  to  undeceive  the  Indiai..;  witliiu 
his  influence,  who  had  been  tanqtcred  with  and  imj)osc(l 
iq)on  b}^  I]nglish  agents,  or  excited  by  synqjathy  with  the 
war-j)arty.  His  death,  which  took  place  at  Tuscarawas,  in 
the  Avinter  of  1770-80,  was  a  very  unfortunate  event  for 
the  Americans.  lie  died  of  that  great  scourge  of  the  In- 
dian races,  the  small-pox. 

The  spring  of  1781  was  a  terrible  season  for  the  white 
settlements  in  Kentucky  and  the  whole  border  country. 
The  savages  who  surrounded  them  had  never  shown  so 
constant  and  systematic  a  determination  for  murder  and 
mischief  Early  in  the  .summer,  a  great  meeting  of  In- 
dian deputies  from  the  Shawanees,  Delawares,  Cherokee.^ 
Wyandots,  Tawas,  Pottawatomics,  and  di\ers  other  tribes 
from  the  north-western  lakes,  met  in  grand  council  of  war 
at  Old  Chilicotlu^  The  persuasioiis  and  influence  of  two 
infamous  whites,  one  McKce,  and  the  notorious  Simon 


1,^  ■     '  ■ : 


srs  were  men 
s  heart  and 
ited  himself, 
the  war,  he 
I  as  we  have 
wed  his  own 
)nt  by  one  of 
filiation,  the 
ell  that  you 
as  yonr  infe- 
egs,  and  jnit 
us  a  hoe  and 
nd  for  you— 
Vm  I  not  full- 
Ay,  I  am  a 
-and  all  that 
on  the  other 
was  signally 
idiai..?  williin 
and  imposed 
:ilhy  with  the 
uscarawas,  in 
ate  event  for 
trc  of  the  Tn- 

or  the  white 
der  country, 
er  shown  so 

murder  and 
leeting  of  In- 
s,  Cherokee.-, 
s  other  trihes 
ouucil  of  war 

loucc  of  two 
->ri()us  Simon 


THE  DELAWARES,  SIIAWAXEES,  ETC. 


363 


Girty,  "inflamed  their  savage  miiuls  to  mischief,  and  led 
them  to  execute  every  diabolical  scheme." 

Bryant's  station,  a  post  five  miles  from  Lcxin^toii,  was 
fixed  upon,  by  the  advice  of  Gii'ty,  as  a  Itivorable  point  for 
the  first  attack.  About  five  hundred  Indians  and  whites 
encompassed  the  place  accordingly,  on  the  15th  of  August. 
Stratagem  and  assault  alike  failed  to  effect  an  entrance: 
a  small  reinforcement  from  Lexington  managed  to  join  the 
garrison,  and  the  besiegers  were  compelled  to  retire  on  the 
third  day,  having  lost  thirty  of  their  number.  When 
Girty  came  forward,  on  one  occasion  during  the  siege, 
bearing  a  flag  of  truce,  and  proposing  a  surrender,  he  was 
received  with  every  expression  of  disgust  and  contempt. 
Ilis  offers  were  spurned,  and  he  retired,  "cursing  and 
cursed,"  to  his  followers. 

The  enemy  were  pursued,  on  their  return,  by  Colonels 
Todd  and  Trigg,  Daniel  Boone,  and  Major  Uarland,  with 
one  hundred  and  seventy-six  men.  The  rashness  of  some 
individuals  of  this  party,  who  were  unwilling  to  listen  to 
tlie  })rudent  advice  of  Boone,  that  an  engagement  sliould 
he  avoided  until  a  large  expected  reinforcement  should 
arrive,  led  to  their  utter  discomfiture.  They  came  up 
with  the  Indians  at  a  bend  in  Licking  river,  beyond  liic- 
Blue  Licks,  and  had  hardly  forded  the  stream  when  ;'  -v 
were  attacked  by  an  overjiowering  force.  The  em^'  ly 
had  cut  oir  all  escape,  except  by  recrossing  the  ri  er, 
ill  the  attempt  to  accomplisli  which,  multitudes  were 
destroyed.  Sixty-seven  of  the  Americans  were  killed; 
aiiKJUg  the  number,  the  three  principal  oflicers  and  a  son 
of  Boone. 

The  outrages  of  the  savages  were,  soon  after  this,  sig- 
nally punished.  General  Clarke,  at  the  head  of  a  thousand 
men,  rendezvousing  at  Fort  Washington,  where  Cincinnati 
now  stands,  invaded  the  Indian  territory.  The  inhabitants 
fled,  in  terror,  at  the  approach  of  so  formidable  an  army 


m^ 


I  Mm 

■    ,■■'.  i'.\v 

;  -■  '.  '-'■  '■■;' lit' 

■'.    •  •  ■         ,-3-.  \V'.! 

•  ■    ■  a:  :k 

■:     '■■■■Mil; 


m 


:  r    ;-, 

'-.■')  !■>' 


■>;\'M 


tt 

''"■•  '(■■'•;■ 

I  "I'  -•  -.^  »i  I  ■.  ' 


,<-■  fj  •■ 


■;^,vl'>' 


■mM' 


■'J. 


'■(/■ 

■    'A 


'■/?fi 


364 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AJIEIUCA. 


leaving  their  towns  to  be  destroyed.  "We  continued  our 
pursuit,"  says  Boone,  who  was  witli  the  array,  "througli 
five  towns  on  tlie  Miami  river — Old  Chilicothe,  Pecaway, 
New  Chilicothe,  Willis'  Towns,  and  Chilicothe — burnt 
them  all  to  ashes,  entirely  destroyed  their  corn,  and  otlicr 
fruits,  and  every  where  spread  a  scene  of  desolation  in  the 
country." 

After  hostilities  between  England  and  America  had 
ceased,  these  western  tribes  of  Indians  still  continued  to 
molest  the  border  inhabitants  of  the  colonies.  Attempts 
to  bring  about  conferences  foiled  signally  in  producing 
any  marked  or  permanent  benefit,  and  it  was  determined 
by  the  government  to  humble  them  by  force  of  arms. 

Tn  the  autunm  of  1791,  General  llarmar  marched  into 
tlie  Indian  territories,  at  the  head  of  nearly  fifteen  hundred 
men.  I^lie  campaign  was  signally  unsuccessful.  The  army 
returned  to  Fort  Washington,  dis})iritcd  and  broken  down, 
having  sustained  a  heavy  loss  in  men  and  officers,  and 
with  the  mortifying  consciousness  of  an  utter  failure  in 
the  accomplishment  of  the  end  in  view. 

Major-General  Arthur  St.  Clair  was  appointed  to  tlic 
command  of  the  next  expedition.  AVith  a  force  of  more 
than  two  thousand  men,  he  marched  towards  the  Indian 
settlemcMits,  and  on  the  .3d  of  November,  (1791,)  onciunped 
witliiu  tiftcen  miles  of  the  Miami  villages.  On  his  way 
lVt)m  l'\)rt  Washington  to  this  jioint,  he  had  built  and 
garrisoned  Forts  Hamilton  and  Jeffiir.son.  By  tliis  reduc- 
tion of  his  troops,  and  by  a  more  extensive  h)ss  frotn  the 
desertion  of  some  hundreds  of  cowardly  militia,  he  had,  at 
the  time  of  which  we  are  speaking,  but  about  fourteen 
hundred  effective  soldiers. 

The  confederate  Indian  tribes  kept  themselves  perfectly 
informed,  by  their  scouting  parties,  of  all  the  eneniv's 
movements,  and,  emboldened  by  recent  success,  prepared 
to  gi\'e  the  advancing  army  a  warm  reception.     Tlie  ju'ln- 


THE  DELxVWAllES,  SlIAWANEES,  ETC. 


305 


cipal  leader  of  tlie  united  nations,  was  the  celebrated 
Miami  chief,  Michikinaqua,  or  Little  Turtle.  He  was  one 
of  the  greatest  warriors  and  most  sagacious  rulers  ever 
known  among  the  red  men,  and  he  had  now  an  O;  por- 
tunity  for  the  full  dis])lay  of  his  abilities.  An  immense 
horde  of  fierce  savages,  impatient  for  war,  was  under  his 
control,  and  his  movements  were  seconded  by  able  subor- 
dinates. Among  these,  the  most  noted  were  Buckonga- 
lielas,  now  war  chief  of  the  Delawares,  and  Blue-Jacket, 
the  Shawanee.  According  to  Colonel  Stone,  the  great 
Mohawk  chief,  Joseph  Brant,  Thayendanegea,  was  also 
present,  lending  the  a.s.sistance  of  his  counsel  and  arms, 
llurons  or  Wyandots,  Iroquois,  Ottawas,  Pottawatomics, 
Chippewas,  Miamics,  Delawares,  and  Shawanees,  with  a 
host  of  minor  tribes,  were  collected  to  repel  the  conimon 
enemy.  The  number  of  their  warriors  assend^led  oh  the 
present  occision  is  estimated  to  have  been  aliout  lifteen 
hundred,  although  some  have  set  it  down  at  twice  that  force. 

Before  the  rising  of  the  sun,  on  the  following  day,  (No- 
vember 4th,)  the  savages  fell  upon  the  camp  of  the  whites. 
Never  was  a  more  decisive  victory  obtaincil.  In  vain  did 
the  American  general  and  his  ofticers  exert  themselves  to 
maintain  ^)rder,  and  to  rall}'^  the  bewildered  troops.  Tlie 
Indi.iiis,  firing  from  covert,  tliinncd  the  ranks  and  picked 
off  the  ofiieers  by  a  continuous  and  murderous  discharge. 
A  disorderly  retreat  was  the  result:  Artillery,  baggage, 
and  no  small  portion  of  the  small  arms  of  the  militia,  iell 
into  the  hands  of  the  exultant  jinrsuers.  Fort  JelTerson 
was  nearly  thirty  miles  distant,  and  thither  tlie  deleutcd 
army  directed  its  flight.  'J'he  Indians  folh)wed  close  upon 
the  fugitives,  cutting  down  and  destroying  at  will,  until, 
as  is  reported,  one  of  their  chiefs  called  out  to  them  to 
"stop,  as  they  had  killed  enough!" 

The  temptation  offered  by  the  ])lunder  to  be  obtained  at 
the  camp  induced  the  Indians  to  return,  and  the  remnant 


f  Wmmmm 


■.ify 


■  >■»■' 


.  i"  1..''  ■' '  1., 
;^  , ,  "J  1 1 


;••  J  ■.'  ',1 


ii^'N 


3G6 


INDIAN  RACKS  OF  AMERICA. 


of  the  invading  anny  reached  Fort  Jefferson  ahout  sunset. 
The  hjss,  in  this  butth^,  on  the  part  of  the  whites,  was  iiu 
less  tlian  eight  hundred  and  ninety -four !  in  killed,  wounded, 
or  missing.  Tliirtj'-eight  olheers,  and  live  hundred  and 
ninety-three  non-conmiissioned  officers  and  privates  were 
slain  or  missing.  The  Indians  lost  but  few  of  their  men, 
judging  from  a  comparison  of  the  diHcrcnt  accounts,  not 
uiuch  over  fifty. 

At  the  deserted  camp  the  victorious  tribes  took  up  their 
quarters,  and  delivered  themselves  np  to  riot  and  exulta- 
tion. General  Scott,  with  a  regiment  of  mounted  Kentucky 
volunteers,  drove  them  from  the  spot  a  lew  weeks  later, 
with  tlie  loss  of  their  plunder  and  of  some  two  hundred  of 
tlu'ir  warriors. 

No  further  important  movement  was  made  to  overthrow 
the  power  of  the  Indians  for  nearly  three  years  from  this 
period.  Negotiation  proved  utterly  fruitless  with  a  race 
of  savages  inflated  by  their  recent  brilliant  successes,  and 
consequently  exhorbitant  in  their  demands.  When  it  was 
finally  evident  that  nothing  but  ibrce  could  check  the 
contiiuancc  of  border  murders  and  njbberj',  an  army  was 
collected,  and  put  under  the  conmiand  of  General  Wayiie, 
sometimes  called  "Mad  Anthony,"  in  a  rude  style  of  com- 
pliment to  his  energy  and  courage,  not  uncommon  in  those 
times.     The  Indians  denominated  liim  the  "  Hlack-Snake." 

The  winter  of  171>;3— i  was  spent  in  fortifying  a  military 
]iost  at  Greenville,  o,  he  Miami,  and  another,  named  Fort 
Kecovcry,  upon  the  field  of  St.  Clair's  defeat.  '^I'hc  last- 
mentioned  station  was  furiously  attacked  by  the  Indians, 
assisted  ])y  certain  Canadians  and  Kiiglish,  on  the  oOth  of 
the  following  June,  but  without  success.  It  was  not  until 
Augtist,  (1794,)  that  General  Wayne  felt  himself  suHieiently 
rt'in forced,  and  his  military  posts  sufliciently  strengthened 
and  supplied,  to  justify  active  operations  in  the  enemy's 
country. 


THE  DELAWAllES,  SHAWANEES,  ETC. 


367 


When  the  army  was  once  put  in  motion,  important  and 
decisive  events  rapidly  succeeded.  The  march  was  di- 
rected into  tlie  heart  of  the  Indian  settlements  on  the 
Miami,  now  called  Maumee,  a  river  cm})tying  into  the 
western  extremity  of  Lake  Erie.  ^Vhere  the  beautiful 
stream  Au  Glaise  empties  into  this  river,  a  fort  was  imme- 
diately erected,  and  named  Fort  Defiance.  From  this  post 
General  Wayne  sent  emissaries  to  invite  the  hostile  na- 
tions to  negotiation,  but  the  pride  and  rancor  of  the  In- 
dians [)reventcd  any  favorable  results.  Little  Turtle, 
indeed,  seemed  to  forebode  the  impending  storm,  and  ad- 
vised the  acceptance  of  the  term!:;  oU'ered.  "The  Ameri- 
cans," said  he,  "are  now  led  by  a  chief  who  never  sleeps: 
the  night  and  the  day  are  alike  to  him.  '"  *  Tliink  well 
of  it.  Tliere  is  something  whispers  me  it  would  be  pru- 
dent to  listen  to  his  oifers  of  peace." 

The  lU'itish,  at  this  time,  in  defiance  of  their  treaties 
with  the  United  States,  still  maintained  possession  of  va- 
rious military  posts  at  the  west.  A  strong  fort  and  garri- 
son was  established  by  them  near  the  Miami  rajJids,  and 
in  that  vicinity  the  main  body  of  the  Indian  warriors  was 
encamped.  Above,  and  below  the  American  camp,  the 
Miami,  and  Au  Glaise,  according  to  Wayne's  dispatches, 
presented,  for  miles,  the  appearance  of  a  single  village, 
and  rich  eoru-lields  spread  on  either  side.  "I  have  never 
seen,"  says  the  writer,  "such  iimnense  fields  of  corn  in 
any  })art  of  America,  froni  Canada  to  Florida." 

Negotiations  proved  futile:  the  Indians  were  evidentlv 
bent  on  war,  and  oidy  favored  delay  for  the  j)urpose  of 
collecting  their  full  force.  General  Wayne  therefore 
marched  upon  tliem,  aiid,  on  the  2()th  of  the  month,  a  ter- 
rible battle  was  fought,  in  ^vhieh  the  allied  tiibes  were 
totally  defeated  and  dis])ei"sed.  The  Indians  gi'catly  out- 
numbered their  op])onents,  and  had  taken  their  usual  pre- 
cautions in  selecting  a  favorable  spot  for  defence.     They 


1   ' 

Si? 


<    (  4 


>    4 


>       1   1 


i   ' 


K^ 


I  '4     . 


368 


INDI.VN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


could  not,  liowcver,  resist  the  attack  of  brave  and  disci- 
plined troops,  directed  by  so  experienced  and  skillful  a 
leader  as  Wayne.  The  fight  tenninated — in  the  words  of 
the  official  dispatch — "under  the  guns  of  the  British  gar- 
rison. *  "  The  wo(xls  were  strewed,  for  a  considerable  dis- 
tance, "with  the  dead  bodies  of  Indians  and  their  whito 
auxiliaries;  the  latter  armed  with  British  muskets  and 
bayonets." 

ISome  days  were  now  spent  in  laying  waste  the  fields 
and  villages  of  the  miserable  savages,  whose  spirit  seemed 
to  be  comjiletely  broken  by  this  reverse.  By  the  lii-st  of 
January  following,  the  influence  of  Little  Turtle  and  Buck- 
ongahelas,  both  of  whom  saw  the  folly  of  further  quarrels 
with  the  United  States,  and  the  hopelessness  of  reliance 
upon  England,  negotiations  for  peace  were  commenced, 
and,  in  August,  (1705,)  a  grand  treaty  was  concluded  at 
Greenville. 


CHAPTER  III. 

CONDITION    OF    THE     INDIANS     SUBSEQXrKNT    TO    THE     PEACE — THE 

PROrHET  ELSKWATAWA TECUMSKH  :    HIS  PLANS  AND  INTRIGUES 

GENERAL  HAI.KISOn's    EXPEDITION  AGAINST  THE  PROPHEt's 

town — defeat  of  the  indians  at  tippecanoe war  of 

1812 — Harrison's  invasion  of  canada — dattle  of 
the  thames,  and  death  of  tecumseh. 

Nearly  ten  years  of  })eace  succeeded  the  treaty  of 
Greenville,  an  interval  which  proved  little  less  destructive 
to  the  tribes  of  the  north-wot  than  the  desolations  of  their 
last  calamitous  war.  The  (hn'astating  innucnce  of  intem- 
perance was  never  more  fearfully  felt  than  in  the  experi- 
ence of  these  ludian  nations  at  the  period  whose  histoiy 


'•3  .- 


3te  tlic  fields 
spirit  seemed 
ly  the  lirst  of 
tie  and  Buck- 
•tlier  quarrels 
3S  of  reliance 
coinmcuccd, 
concluded  at 


E     PEACE — THE 
IND  INTRIGUES 
IK  I'KOPHKt's 
E — WAR  Ol'" 
SATTLE    OF 
H. 


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itiuiis  oC  their 
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THE  DELAVVARKS,  SHAWANEES,  ETC. 


3G9 


we  aro  now  roi^onlinfr.  Clcncml  Harrison,  then  commis- 
sioner lor  Indiim  iillairs,  I'ejiorted  their  eondition  in  the 
lollowin;^,'  terms:  "So  destruetive  has  been  the  progress 
ol'  iiitemitoranee  amoiijf  them,  tliiit  wliole  viUages  have 
liocu  s\V(']»t  away.  A  miserahle  remnant  is  all  that  remains 
to  iiuiriv  tlie  names  and  situation  of  many  numerous  and 
warlike  tribes.  In  the  ener<(etie  hm^auigo  of  one  of  their 
orators,  it  is  a  dreadful  eonllagration,  whieh  spreads  misery 
mid  desolation  throuj.di  their  eountry,  and  threatens  the 
annihilation  of  the  whole  race." 

Wliile  tliis  deadly  evil  was  constantly  increasing,  in  the 
year  lS(t4,  a  distin<.^uished  Indian  orator  began  to  excite  a 
widt'-spread  discontent  among  the  nations  of  the  former 
iiortli-westei'n  eonlrderacy.  This  was  the  self-styled  pro])h- 
c't,  Klskwalawa,  Olliwaysiiila,  or  OUiwachaca.  About  the 
year  1770,  a  woman  of  one  of  the  southern  tribes,  domes- 
ticated with  the  Shawances,  according  to  report,  became 
iiKitlicr  to  three  children  at  a  single  birth,  who  received 
the  names  of  TKCU.MSKir,  Klskwatawa,  and  Kumshaka — 
the  last 'being  unknown  to  fame.  'flu>ir  father,  a  Shawa- 
iice  warrior,  ])erishe(l  in  the  gn^at  battle  at  Point  Pleasant, 
liy  the  time  that  Tecumseh  had  attained  the  iv/^o  of  man- 
liiHid,  he  iiad  already  become  noted  as  a  bold  and  .sagacious 
warrior.  For  ye:irs  before  the  overthrow  of  the  Indian 
power  by  General  Wayne,  he  had  been  forcmo.st  in  the 
incursions  which  sjiread  desolation  throughout  the  western 
settlements;  and  when  the  peace,  concluded  at  Greenville, 
iK'prived  him  of  a  Held  for  warlike  enterprise,  he  oidy 
retired  to  brood  over  new  mischief,  and,  in  conjunction 
with  his  brother,  the  Prophet,  to  excite  a  nmri'  extensive 
conspiracy  tluin  had  ever  before  been  })erfeeted. 

With  consmumate  art,   Klskwatawa  exposed  the  evils 
attendant  on  the  white  man's  encroachments,  exhorting  to 
sobriety  and  a  universal  union  for  resistance,     lie  pro- 
claimed  himself  es])ecially  commissioned   by  the  Great 
24 


t 


'K'l^^. 


rr 


o70 


INDIAN  lUOKS  OF  AMKIIICA. 


Spirit  to  foretell,  ami  to  hasten,  l)y  liis  own  e'lnrts,  die 
destruction  ol'tlie  iuti'iulers,  and  by  various  appeals  to  tlio 
vanity,  the  superstition,  and  tho  spirit  oC  n!Vt!n;,^',  ol'  liis 
auditors,  h(!  ae(|uired  a  stronj^  and  enduring  inlhionco. 
The  chieis  wlio  opj)osed  or  ridieuK'd  his  pretensions  were 
denouneed  as  wi/ards  or  soi'eei'eis,  and  prools,  satisl'aetorv 
to  the  minds  of  the  Indians,  l)eing  aiMueed  in  support  ut' 
the  accusation,  nund)ers  perishecl  at  the  stal<e,  leaving  a 
clear  field  for  tho  operations  of  tin;  impostor. 

Tecumseh,  meanwhile,  was  not  idle.  It  is  saiil  that  tho 
noted  St'ueea  chii'f,  Hed-Jaeket,  first  counselled  him  to  trnt 
about  the  work  to  whit'h  he  devoted  his  lill',  hold ini^' out 
to  him  the  tem[)ting  prospect  of  a  recovery  of  the  rieli 
and  extensive  valley  of  the  Mississij)pi  from  the  posses- 
sion of  the  wliites.  Whatever  originated  the  idea  in  his 
mind,  he  lent  all  the  powerful  energy  of  his  eharai'tcr  to 
its  aeeomjilishtut'iit.  The  tribes  eoneerned  in  the  prii|in>c,l 
out-break  were  mostly  the  same  that  had  in  earlier  linus 
lieen  aroused  Ly  Pontia(?,  ami  had  again  unite(l,  uihK  i' 
Michikinai[ua,  as  \.'e  have  seen  in  the  [ireceding  eliapter. 
The  undertaking  oi.  n,'eumseh  and  his  brother  was  nnt  of 
easy  or  s})eedy  aeeomplishment,  l)ut  their  unwearieil  cllnrts 
and  high  natural  eixlowmeuts  gradually  gave  tln-m  liolli 
an  un[)reeedented  ase(>ndaney  over  the  mindsofthe  Indians. 
In  1>>07,  the  new  movement  among  the  Westeiii  Indians 
called  for  attention  on  the  part  of  the  I'nited  Stab 
General,  then  G(Jvernor,  Harrison  dispate-l 


Mill 


leij  a  uiL'S-ia'/e  ul 


\\r. 


lKi\v;i- 


wariung  and  reproach  t(j  the  leading  men  of  tl 
nee  tribe.  The  })rophet  dictated,  in  reply,  a  letter,  in  wliicli 
he  denied  the  charges  circulated  again.'^t  I'iin,  and  strenu- 
ously asserted  that  nothing  ^vas  farther  from  his  thoughts 
than  any  design  of  creating  a  disturbance.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  the  following  year  this  .subtle  intriguer  establislicil 
himself  on  the  1'ippeeanoe  river,  a  tributaiy  of  tiie  Wa- 
bash, in  the  northern  part  of  the  .state  of  Indiana. 


>- 


TIIK  DKLAWAUK.S,  HIIAWANKKt^,  KTC. 


371 


From  fliis  placo,  wlicre  lie  lived  Hurronndcd  by  a  crowd 
of  admiring-  ll>ll()\vcrs,  tlic  Prophet  procu'cilcd  shoillv  alhir 
tg  ViiiccniK's,  and  spent  some  time  in  eommiinieation  with 
Governor  Harrison,  for  the  pur[)ose  of  disarming' suspieion. 
Hoeontinnallv  insistt'd  tliat  th(!  wiiole  objeet  of  iiis  preacili- 
ing  to  the  Indians  was  to  persuade  tliem  to  relin([iiish  thoir 
vioes,  and  K-adsolicr  and  peaeeai tie  lives;  and  to  this  elfectt 
he  often  exhorted  liis  peoph.  in  the  presenee  of  the  L'nited 
States'  government  ollieials. 

In  September,  of  1809,  while  Tecumseh  was  pushing 
liis  intrigni'S  among  various  distant  tribes,  (jovenioi'  Har- 
rison obtained  a  eession,  for  certain  stipulated  annuities, 
of  a  large  traet  of  land  on  the  lower  portion  of  the 
Wabash,  from  the  triln-s  of  the  Miamis,  Helawares.  Tutta- 
watomies,  and  Kickapoos.  ( )ii  'recnniseh's  return  in  the 
following  year,  he,  with  his  brother,  made  \-elicni('nt  re- 
nioiistranees  against  tliis  proceeding,  and  a  somewhat 
stormy  interview  took  plaee  between  tiie  great  chief  and 
(iovernor  Harrison,  each  jiarty  being  attended  by  r.  pow- 
erful armc(l  force.  rp"ii  this  occasion,  Tecumseh  tb'st 
o|ienly  avoweil  his  design  of  (orming  an  universal  coali- 
tion of  the  Indian  iiatinns,  by  which  the  progress  of  the 
whites  westward  siiould  be  arrested,  but  he  still  insisted 
that  it  was  not  his  intention  to  make  war.  Oni'  great 
}uiiiciple  which  he  endeavored  to  enforce  was  that  no  In- 
dian lands  sliould  be  sold,  except  by  consc-nt  of  all  the 
confederate  trilx^s.  Two  days  after  this  conii'reniH'  lie 
started  for  tlic  south,  witli  a  few  attendant  warriors,  to 
spread  disafreetion  among  tlic  (,'ivcks.  Cherok(M\<,  and  other 
tribes  (jf  the  southeiMi  states. 

In  the  following  year,  (1811,)  during  the  jirolonged 
absence  of  Tecumseh,  and  contrary,  as  is  supi)osed,  to  his 
express  instructions,  bold  and  audacious  depredations  and 
murders  were  committed  by  tlie  horde  of  savages  gathered 
at  the  Prophet's  town.     l{epres(>ntations  were  forwarded 


'.*• 


'  I, 


".rf     ./: 


'>H' 


m.. 


372 


INDIAN   RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


to  Wasliington  of  tlic  necessity  for  active  moaKiires  in  re- 
straint of  these  outrages,  and  a  regiment,  under  Colonel 
Boyd,  was  })roniptly  marched  from  Pittsburg  to  VinctMuios, 
and  placed  under  the  command  of  Harrison.  With  tliis 
force,  and  a  body  of  militia  and  volunteers,  the  whole 
amounting  to  about  nine  hundred  men,  the  governor 
marched  from  Fort  Harrison,  on  the  Wabash,  for  the 
Prophet's  town,  on  the  28tli  of  October.  ITc  had  previ- 
ously made  various  attempts,  through  the  intervention  ol' 
some  friendly  Delaware  and  Miami  chiefs,  to  bring  abotit 
a  negotiation,  a  restoration  of  the  stolen  projierty,  and  a 
delivery  up  of  the  murderers;  but  his  emissaries  were 
treated  with  contempt  and  his  proposals  spurned. 

The  march  was  conducted  with  the  greatest  military 
skill.  A  feint  was  made  of  taking  up  the  line  of  march 
on  the  south  bank  of  the  river;  after  which,  the  whole 
army  crossed  the  stream,  and  hastened  towards  the  hostile 
settlement  through  the  extensive  prairies,  stretching  fur- 
ther than  the  eye  could  reach  toward  the  west.  On  the 
5th  of  Novem^^er,  having  met  with  no  o])|K)sition  on  tlio 
route,  Harrison  encamped  within  nine  miles  of  the  Pro])li- 
ct's  town.  Approaching  the  town  on  the  ensuing  day, 
various  futile  attempts  were  made  to  open  a  confei'ence. 
Menaces  and  insults  were  the  only  rejjly  to  thes(>  overtures. 
Before  the  troops  reached  the  town,  however,  messengers 
from  Elskwalawa  came  forward,  proposing  a  ti'uce,  and 
the  arrangement  for  a  conference  upon  the  following  day. 
The  chief  averred  that  he  had  sent  a  pacific  emba8.sy  to 
the  governor,  but  that  those  charged  with  the  mission  had 
gone  down  the  river  on  the  opposite  bank,  and  thus  missed 
him.  Harrison  assented  to  a  cessation  of  liostilities  mitil 
the  next  day,  but  took  wise  precautions  for  security  against 
a  treacherous  night  attack. 

The  suspicions  of  the  prudent  general  proved  to  be  well- 
founded.     The  darkness  of  the  night  favored  the  designs 


n.     With  tliis 


t)VO(l  to  be  woll- 
re  1  the  desi'^iis 


THE  UELAWAKES,  SIIAAVANEES,  ETC. 


373 


of  the  Indians,  and,  before  day -break,  about  four  o'clock, 
the  alarm  of  an  attack  was  given.  In  the  words  of  one  of 
Harrison's  biographers:  "The  treacherous  Indians  had 
stealthily  crej^t  up  near  our  sentries,  with  the  intention  of 
rushing  upon  them  and  killing  them  before  they  could 
give  the  alarm.  But  fortunately  one  of  the  sentries  dis- 
covered an  [luliau  creeping  towards  him  through  the  grass, 
and  fired  at  him.  This  was  immediately  followed  by  the 
Indian  yell,  and  a  furious  charge  upon  the  left  flank." 

The  onset  of  the  Indians,  stimulated  as  they  were  by 
the  assurances  of  their  prophet,  that  certain  success  awaited 
them,  was  unprecedented  for  fury  and  determination. 
They  numbered  from  five  hundred  to  a  thousand,  and 
were  led  by  White  Loon,  Stone-Eater,  and  a  treacherous 
Pottawatomie  chief  named  Winnemac.  The  Projihct  took, 
personally,  no  share  in  the  engagement.  The  struggle  con- 
tinned  until  day-light,  when  the  assailants  were  driven  off 
and  dis})ersed.  Great  praise  has  been  deservedly  awarded 
to  the  commanding  ofliccr  of  tlie  whites  for  his  steady 
courage  and  generalship  during  the  trying  scenes  of  this 
night's  encounter.  The  troops,  although  no  small  num- 
her  of  them  were  now,  for  the  first  time,  in  active  ser-viee, 
displayed  gi'eat  firmness  and  bravery.  The  Indians  im- 
mediately abandoned  their  town,  which  the  army  proceeded 
to  destroy,  tearing  down  the  fortifications  and  burning  the 
huildings.  The  object  of  the  expedition  being  thus  fully 
aecoin[)lislied,  the  troo})S  were  marched  back  to  Vincennes. 

In  the  battle  at  Tippecanoe,  the  loss  of  the  victors  was 
probably  greater  than  that  of  the  savages.  Thirt\  -eight 
of  the  latter  were  left  dead  upon  the  field:  of  tlie  whites, 
fifty  were  killed,  and  nearly  one  hundretl  wounded.  It  is 
not  to  be  supposed  that  the  Proj)het's  infiuenee  maintained 
its  former  hold  upon  his  followers  after  this  defeat.  He 
takes  indeed,  from  this  time  forward,  a  place  in  history 
entirely  subordinate  to  his  warlike  and  powerful  brother. 


.:■.;'■'-■>■ 


■■■■■''A  .fc 


■  l',    *  ^ 

.    :■   ■:■■  li-'if 
;''';■'■■■,  ,'',<)( 


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r 


1^ 

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i 

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,'7' 


37-1 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


An  iiitei'Viil  of  coin])ur;itivo  (]^uict  succeeded  this  over- 
throw of  the  Prophet's  coiiceiitruted  forces,  a  quiet  des- 
tined to  lie  broken  by  a  far  more  extensive  and  disastrous 
Avar.  ^Vllen  open  hostilities  conunenecd  between  Eiighuid 
and  the  United  States,  in  1812,  it  was  at  once  evident  tluit 
the  former  country  had  pursued  her  ohl  pohcy  of  rousing 
up  the  savages  to  ravage  our  defenceless  frontier,  with 
unprecedented  success,  Tecumseh  proved  a  more  valu- 
able coadjutjr,  if  possiOki,  than  Brant  had  been  during 
the  revolution,  in  uniting  the  diilerent  nations  against 
the  American  interests. 

To  jiarticularize  the  }iart  taken  by  this  great  warrior 
and  statesman  in  the  war,  would  involve  too  prolonged  a 
descrij)tion  of  the  various  incidents  of  the  western  caiu- 
]»aigns.  By  counsel  and  persuasion ;  by  courage  in  battle; 
and  by  the  energy  of  a  powerful  mind  devoted  to  the  cause 
he  had  esj)oused,  he  continued  until  his  death  to  ai<l  Lis 
English  allies.  A  strong  l^ritish  fortress  at  Maiden,  (jn  tin' 
eastern  or  Canada  shore  of  Detroit  river,  i)roved  a  rcmli'/.- 
vous  for  the  hostile  Indians,  of  the  utmost  danger  to  the 
iidiabitants  of  the  north-western  frontier.  The  place  was 
under  the  connnand  of  the  British  (ieneral  Proctor;  the 
oflicer  whose  infaiuous  neglect  or  countenance  led  to  the 
massacre  of  a  body  of  wounded  prisoners  at  Frenchtown, 
on  the  river  Eaisin,  in  January,  1813.  This  jiost  was 
abandoned  by  the  British  and  Iiulians,  about  the  tim(>  of 
*he  invasion  of  Canada,  in  Septcunber,  of  the  above  year, 
by  the  American  troo])s  under  Harrison.  The  invading 
army  encamped  at  th(;  deserted  and  dismantled  fortress, 
"from  which  had  issued,  for  years  past,  those  ruthless 
bands  of  savages,  which  had  swejit  so  fiercely  over  our 
cxteiuled  frontier,  leaving  death  and  destruction  only  in 
their  path." 

General  ITarrison  hasteiu^d  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy  up 
the  Thames  river,  and,  on  the  4th  of  October,  encamped  a 


THE  DELAWARES,  SITAW.iNEES,  ETC. 


875 


Tew  miles  above  tlic  forks  of  the.  river,  and  erected  a  sliglit 
fortification.  On  the  5tli,  the  memorable  battle  of  the 
Thames  was  fought.  General  Proctor  awaited  the  ap- 
proach of  the  American  forces  at  a  place  chosen  by  himself, 
near  Moravian  town,  as  presenting  a  favorable  position  for 
a  stand.  His  forces,  in  regulars  and  Indians,  rather  out- 
numbered those  of  his  opponents,  being  set  down  at  two 
thousand  eight  hundred;  the  Americans  numbered  twenty- 
five  hundred,  mostly  militia  and  volunteers.  '^Ilic  British 
army  "was  flanked,  on  the  left,  by  the  river  Thames,  and 
siijiported  by  artillery,  ami  on  the  rii^ht  by  two  extensive 
swamps,  running  nearly  ])arallel  to  the  river,  and  occujtied 
by  a  strong  body  of  Indians.  *  *  The  Indians  were 
coinmandc'l  by  Tecumseh  in  person." 

The  British  line  was  broken  by  the  first  charge  of  Colonel 
Johnson's  mounted  regiment,  and  being  thrown  into  irrc- 
tri('vai)le  disorder,  the  troops  were  unal)le  to  rally,  or 
opjKise  any  further  eU'ective  resistance.  Nearly  the  whole 
ai-iiiy  surrendered  at  discretion.  Proctor,  with  a  few  com- 
panions, eft'ected  his  escape.  The  Indians,  protected  by 
tlic  covert  where  they  w?re  posted,  were  not  so  easily  dis- 
lodged. They  maintained  their  position  until  after  the 
defeat  of  their  Knglish  associates  and  the  death  of  their 
brave  leader.  By  whose  hand  Tecumseh  fell,  does  not 
appear  to  be  decisively  settled;  but,  according  to  the  or- 
dinarily received  account,  he  was  rushing  ujion  Colonel 
Johnson,  with  his  tomahawk,  when  the  latter  shot  him 
dead  with  a  pistol. 

This  battle  was,  in  effect,  the  conclusion  of  the  north- 
western Indian  war.  Deputations  from  various  tribes 
appeared  suing  for  peace;  and  during  this  and  the  ensuing 
year,  when  Generals  Harrison  and  Cass,  with  Governor 
Shelby,  were  ajipoiuted  commissioners  to  treat  with  the 
North-western  tribes,  important  treaties  were  effected. 

Tecumseh  was  buried  near    the  field  of  battle,  and  a 


■  ^1 


•   I'l  ■.V*' • 


■  ■■■'  u-h 

I,' '',■'»-.  !•■ 

[it'  r>\ 


•;■ ;; 


■■1    '4. 


M- 


;-.v-,/r-^ 


C:.  m  \'.. 


f  ■"  ■*.  ' 


l^l^'rl^i^-;',;^ 


■    ('''    y  ,^!f^[-*- 


■  ■  ■,.4:.v:,c» 


I  '.' 


f.jr 


■ih 


376 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AMERICA. 


mound  still  marks  his  grave.  The  British  government, 
not  unmindful  of  his  services,  granted  a  pension  to  his 
widow  and  family,  as  well  as  to  the  Proph  jt  Elskwatawa. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

ACQUISITION  AND  SALE,    BY    THE  UMTKl)  STATKS,  OF  INDIAN  LANDS 

IN  ILLINOIS BLACK-HAWK THE  SACS  liKMOVKO  WEST  OF  THE 

MISSISSIPPI KETUllN  OF  BLACK-HAWK  AM)  HIS  FOLLOW- 

ERS DEFEAT   OF    MAJOU   STILLMAN THE     HOSTILE 

INDIANS  PURSUED  BY  ATKINS(J.\    ANU  DODGE 

THEIR  DEFEAT  ON  THE  BANK  OK  THE  MISSIS- 
SIPPI— black-hawk's  SUUUENUER 

HE  IS  TAKEN  TO  WASHINGTON — 
HIS  SUBSEQUENT  CAREER. 

With  the  rapid  increase  of  a  white  population  between 
the  Lakes  and  the  Mississijipi,  which  followed  the  con- 
clusion of  hostilities  with  England  and  her  Indian  allies, 
new  difliculties  began  to  arise  between  the  natives  and 
the  settlers.  Illinois  and  Wisconsin  were  inhabited  by 
various  tribes  of  Indians,  uj)on  terms  of  bitter  hostility 
among  themselves,  but  united  in  their  sus])icions  and 
apprehensions  at  the  uiijjrecedented  inroads  of  emigrants 
from  the  east. 

The  Winnebagos,  Iwelling  in  AVisconsin;  the  Pottawat- 
oniies,  situated  anjiind  the  southern  extremity  of  Lake 
Michigan;  and  the  Sacs,  (afterwards  mingled  with  the 
Loxes,  and  usually  coupled  with  that  tribe,)  of  Illinois, 
principally  located  upon  liock  river,  were  the  most  con- 
siderable of  these  north-western  tribes.  By  various  ces- 
sions, the  L^nited  States  acquired,  in  the  early  part  of  the 
present  century,  a  title  to  extensive  tracts  of  country,  Ijing 
east  of  the  Mississippi,  and  included  in  tlie  present  state  of 


THE  DELAWARES,  SIIAWANEES,  ETC. 


377 


Illinois.  The  tribes  who  sold  the  land  were  divided  in 
opinion;  great  numbers  of  tlie  occupants  of  the  soil  were 
utterly  opposed  to  its  alienation,  and  denied  the  authority 
of  the  chiefs,  by  whose  negotiation  the  sales  or  cessions 
wore  cffeetcd;  and  upon  the  parcelling  out  and  the  sale 
by  the  United  States  government  of  this  public  property 
to  i)rivate  individuals,  conflicting  claims  soon  led  to  serious 
disturbances. 

In  July,  of  1830,  a  treaty  was  formed  at  Prairie  du 
Chien,  between  United  States  commissioners  and  the  tribes 
of  the  lowas,  Sioux,  Omawhas,  Sacs  and  Foxes,  kc,  for  the 
purpose  of  finally  arranging  the  terms  upon  which  the 
lands  cast  of  the  Mississippi  should  be  yielded  up.  The 
Sac  chief,  Keokuk,  was  present,  and  assenting  to  the  ar- 
rangement in  behalf  o<^  his  people;  but  a  strong  part}', 
headed  by  the  celebrated  Black-llawk,  utterly  refused  to 
abide  by  it.  This  chief  was  then  between  sixty  and  seventy 
years  of  age,  and  had  been,  from  early  youth,  a  noted 
warrior.  He  was  l)orn  at  some  Indian  settlement  upon 
the  Rock  river,  and  retained  through  life  a  strong  attach- 
ment to  the  place  of  his  nativity  and  the  stream  upon 
wliose  banks  he  so  long  resided.  lie  was  a  Pottawatomie, 
but  his  whole  life  was  sjient  among  the  Sacs. 

To  enforce  the  removal  of  the  Sacs  from  their  villages, 
on  Eoek  river.  General  Gaines  visited  that  locality  in 
June,  1831.  He  proceeded  up  the  river  in  a  steainer,  with 
several  pieces  of  artillery  and  two  companies  of  inf'uitry. 
The  general  spoke  of  his  visit  as  follows:  "'i'heir  villnge 
is  immediately  on  Hock  river,  and  so  situated  that  I  could, 
from  the  steam-boat,  destroy  all  their  bark  houses  (the 
only  kind  of  houses  they  have,)  in  a  few  minuses,  ^.•ith  the 
force  now  with  me,  probably  without  the  loss  of  a  man. 
But  I  am  resolved  to  abstain  from  firing  a  shot  without 
some  bloodshed,  or  some  manifi'st  attemj)t  to  shed  blood, 
on  the  part  of  the  Indians.     I  have  already  induced  nearly 


V 


Sri; 


'■1 


\{ 


m 


il 


J 


4 


■.  I.' 

'•4 


;}j! 


378 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AMERICA. 


onc-tliird  of  tluun  to  cross  tlic  Mississippi  to  tiicir  o-wn 
land.  Tlio  residue,  liowcvcr,  say,  as  the  friendly  chiefs 
re])()rt,  that  tliey  never  will  move;  and,  what  is  vrry  un- 
common, tlie  Avomcn  urge  their  hostile  husbands  to  figlit 
ratlicr  than  to  move,  and  thus  abandon  their  homos." 

Before  the  close  of  the  month  the  forces  of  the  United 
States  and  the  state  militia  took  j)ossessiou  of  ihe  settle- 
ment. '^I'lie  Indians  made  no  attempt  at  resistance,  and 
betook  themselves  to  the  western  bank  of  the  Mississipj)i. 
In  the  spring  of  the  following  year,  the  Sacs  began  to 
straggle  bu^-k  to  their  old  towns  in  Illinois;  and  VAnch 
Hawk,  with  a  considerable  force  of  his  warriors,  nian-hci' 
up  Hock  river,  v.  ith  the  avowed  intent  of  spending  tlic 
summer,  and  raising  a  sujiply  of  corn  among  the  rottawa- 
tomies.  in  accordance  with  an  invitation  from  that  Irilic. 
lie  ])rocced('d  quietlv  ami  peaceably  up  the  river,  oH'cring 
no  violence  to  either  the  ])ersons  or  pro])erty  of  the  white 
inhabitants.  A  body  of  moanted  militia,  under  Major 
Stillinaii,  set  out  in  pursuit  of  the  Indians  about  the  middle 
of  May,  On  their  ajtproach  to  his  tem})orary  (puirttis, 
Black-llawk  sent  a  nuniber  of  his  followers  to  meet  ami 
confer  with  the  commanding  offic^er;  but  it  so  happeiu'd, 
either  through  mistake  as  to  their  intentions,  or  fi-ma  a 
reckless  dejiravity  on  the  part  of  certain  of  the  whites, 
that  several  of  these  emissaries  were  killed. 

]{ous(m1  by  tliis  injurious  treatment,  the  Indian  cliicf 
prepared  to  fall  upon  his  pursuers  at  a  point  whiTc  an 
and)useade  could  be  rendered  most  ellective.  It  is  said 
that  wiien  the  militia  came  uj),  he  had  but  ab(jut  Ibn  • 
warriors  with  him,  (the  rest  of  his  men  being  oil"  in  pursuit 
of  game,)  while  the  whites  numbered  no  less  than  two 
hundred  and  seventy!  As  these  undi.sciplined  troops  wore 
crossing  Sycamore  creek,  in  entire  disorder,  and  without 
any  precaution  against  a  surprise,  they  were  fiercely  at- 
tacked by  the  Indians.     The  rout  was  comijlete:  unable 


■' '  ■  ;.i; 


to  their  own 

I 

Ticndly  cliiefs   ■ 

at  IS  very  im-   ; 

I 

sbancls  to  fiolit   ! 

I 

r  homos."  i 

of  tlio  Vnitod    ' 
II  of  ilie  sottle- 
resistarico,  aiul 
lie  Mississippi. 
Sacs  l)i\Li;an  to 
lis;  aiul  P>lack- 
■riors,  inareluM^ 
f  spemlinif  tlic 
ig  tlie  l\)tta\va- 
roll!  that  Irihc. 
i  river,  oiVering 
ty  of  tlic  wliitc 
,  iiiidcr  Miijor 
30vit  tlu'  middle 
arary  (piartt  rs, 
's  to  iiuvt  aiul 
it  .so  happi'UC'd, 
jiis,  or  ti'Diu  a 
of  tlie  wliitcs, 

3  Indian  cliicf 
■loint  wdu'i'c  ail 
vv.  It  is  said 
)iit  aliout  ibri/ 
g  oil"  in  pursuit 
CSS  than  two 
led  trot>ps  were 
er,  and  without 
ere  fuTcely  at- 
niplete:  uuahle 


THE  DELAWAliES,  SlIAWANEES,  ETC. 


379 


to  form,  or  to  offer  any  elfectnal  resistance,  the  whites 
were  driven  off,  leaving  eleven  of  their  number  dead  upon 
the  field.  As  they  again  rende/iVoused  at  Dixon's  Ferry, 
thirty  miles  below,  they  gave  the  most  extravagant  accounts 
of  the  numbers  of  the  enemy. 

Great  excitement  was  produced  by  this  skirmish,  and  a 
large  army  of  militia  was  called  into  service  by  Governor 
lleynolds,  and  ordered  to  meet  by  the  10th  of  June,  at 
Ilennepin,  in  I'utiiam  county,  on  the  Illinois.  Agents 
were  sent  to  confirm  the  good- will  of  the  Winnebagos, 
and  other  tribes,  and  the  services  of  .several  hundred  of 
the  Menomonies  and  Sioux  were  enlisted  against  the  dan- 
gerous intruders. 

Black-Ilaw'k  and  his  party,  feeling  themselves  now 
fully  committed,  were  not  siow  in  following  up  the  ad- 
vantage gained  by  the  terror  ins])irod  by  the  engagement 
at  Sycaniore  Creek. 

Between  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  and  the  beginning 
of  the  month  of  August  the  Indians  connnitted  many 
murders,  and  various  skirmishes  took  place  between  them 
and  the  troops  sent  in  pursuit.  On  the  20th  of  May,  a  lit- 
tle settlement  on  Indian  Creek  was  plundered.  Vifteen 
of  the  inhabitants  were  killed,  and  two  young  girls,  by 
the  name  of  Hall,  one  sixteen  and  the  other  eighteen 
years  of  age,  were  carried  into  captivity.  According  to 
the  almost  universal  custom  of  the  North  American  In- 
dians, these  fenuu .  prisoners  were  not  expo.sed  to  the 
slightest  insult  oi  outrage,  but  were  as  well  eaivd  for  as 
circumstances  would  allow.  They  were  afterwift'ds  ran- 
somed, at  a  large  i)rice,  and  returned  to  their  friends. 

Little  mercy  was  shown  t,(>  uny  uf  Blaek-llawk's  Ibllow- 
ers  upon  any  occasion  of  success  on  the  part  of  the  whites. 
Five  per.sons  were  killed  near  Galena  on  +he  lith  of  June, 
and,  shortly  after,  twelve  Indians,  sup])osed  to  be  coniu'cted 
with  the  attacking  paily,  were  pursued  and  dri\'en  mto  a 


'.'      '.I'    ' 
I      ' ,'  •»       ■'■  I'  I 

■  ■'■■„''•►.'■■■ 


m^ 

-'  ■  [.' '  ■    ' ;'' 

•■■  ■'  "'Ml 

,'  ( 

.1  ,  '  '■•■",  ; 

I  4' 


I  *"    ■■  ' 
'i,'-,':r' 


-:;■',- 


*■) 


1  !■: 


v^ 


880 


INDIAN   RACKS   OF  AMERICA. 


noiglilH)riiig  swamp.  When  overtaken,  althougli  they 
made  no  resiHtancc,  tliey  were  every  one  killed  and  scalped 
by  the  whites. 

The  eoiulition  of  Blaek-Uawk  and  his  band  grew  daily 
more  miserable,  fruni  destitution,  exposure,  and  starvation. 
An  end  would  speedily  have  been  put  to  their  operations, 
but  for  that  terrible  disease,  the  cholera,  by  which  the 
United  States  troops,  on  their  route  from  the  east  to  the 
scene  of  action,  were  almost  wlK)lly  disabled. 

Driven  from  his  encampment  at  the  Four  Lakes  by  the 
approach  of  General  Atkinson,  IJlack-Ihiwk  retreated 
down  the  Wisconsin,  expecting  to  ilnd  provisions  and  as- 
sistance among  the  Indians  in  that  direction,  (iciicral 
Dodge,  with  a  .strong  force  of  militia,  followed  close  on  liis 
trail.  lie  came  up  with  the  fugitives  on  the  '21st  of  July. 
The  Indians  were  about  crossing  the  river  when  tlii-y  were 
attacked,  and,  l)Ut  for  tlie  coming  on  of  night,  could  hardlv 
have  escaped  entire  destruction  or  capture.  They  lost  in 
the  encounter  not  far  from  forty  men. 

^riie  discomfited  savages  continued  their  flight  down 
the  river  in  their  boats,  beset  on  every  side  by  enemie.><, 
and  with  an  overwhelming  ft)rce — Dodge's  armv  haviiii" 
been  joined  by  Atkinson  and  his  troops  in  liot  ])ur.suit. 
"Some  of  the  boats,"  says  Drake,  "convejdng  these  poor 
wretches,  were  o.-erset,  and  many  of  those  in  them  drowned; 
the  greater  number,  however,  fell  into  the  hands  of  tlicir 
enemi(>s  in  their  ])assage.  Many  of  the  eliildren  were 
found  to  be  in  such  a  famished  state  that  they  could  not 
be  revived." 

Having  rea  bod  the  mouth  of  tlie  river,  on  tin;  first  of 
Augu.st,  Blaclv  iwk  prepared  to  cross  the  Mi.ssissippi,  hut 
was  })revcnted  uy  a  force  on  board  the  steam-boat  Warrior. 
ITe  "did  not  wish  to  fight,  but  to  escape;  and  when  tlie 
steam-boat  fell  in  with  him,  he  used  every  means  to  give 
the  captain  of  her  to  understand  that  he  de.-ired  to  sunvn- 


TUE  DELAWAUKS,  SUAWANEES,  ETC. 


381 


dcr.  He  displayed  two  wliitc  flags,  and  about  otic;  hundred 
and  fifty  of  liis  men  ajiproaclied  the  river  without  arms, 
and  made  signs  of  submission."  'J'he  only  reply  was  a 
discharge  of  eanister  and  musketry  from  the  boat,  which 
was  returned  fi'om  the  shore.  After  about  an  hour's 
liring,  which  resulted  in  the  destruction  of  more  than 
twenty  of  the  Indians,  tlie  boat  moved  off  to  procure  a 
supply  of  wood. 

Next  morning  General  Atkinson,  with  the  whole  force 
in  pursuit,  (sixteen  hundred  men)  came  up  with  the  I'em- 
nant  of  the  eiu'iny.  Retreat  was  cut  off  on  every  side, 
and  i\\o  half-starved  and  disi>irited  savages  were  shot  and 
cut  down  at  the  pleasure  of  the  irresistible  numbers  who 
gurroundcul  them,  'i'iie  following  ks  extracted  from  an 
account  pubHshed  shortly  after  this  decisive  and  final  en- 
gagoinent.  "The  battle  lasted  upwards  of  three  lionrs. 
Al»out  fifty  of  the  enemy's  women  and  children  were  taken 
prisoners,  and  many,  by  accident,  in  the  battle,  were  kill- 
ed. When  the  Indians  were  driven  to  the  bank  of  the 
Mississi[)pi,  some  hundreds  of  men,  women,  and  ehililren, 
plunged  into  the  river,  and  hoped,  by  diving,  &c.,  to  escape 
the  bullets  of  our  guns;  very  few,  however,  escaped  our 
sharji-shooters." 

Historians  generally  speak  of  an  action  in  which  tln^ 
Indians  prove  successful  as  a  "massacre,''  but  the  above- 
described  proceeding  is  dignified  by  the  name  of  a  battle! 
Black-IIawk,  who,  witii  a  few  followers,  managed  to  elVe(.'t 
his  escape,  afterwards  declared  that,  upon  the  approach 
of  the  American  army,  he  and  his  warriors  made  no 
attempt  at  resistance,  oiferijig  to  surrender  themselves  un- 
conditionally, and  that  they  only  used  tlieir  arms  when  it 
was  apparent  that  the  successful  pursuers  had  no  intention 
of  showing  quarter.  It  is  hard  to  decide  upon  the  true 
state  of  the  case. 

His  cause  now  being  palpably  hopeless,  and  most  of  his 


s:' 

r    ■ 

', 

'■  '■■  ...  ^* 

i  '  ^ 

•    i,      '  .]" 

t  ' ' 

]y'''i 

.j,';i.' 


V,' 


■/  "Mm 


i 


'I  I 


l''^' 

5t: 

1 

, 

\l 

a. 

'i  ,r 

r    ■ 

■ 

'P 

882 


INDIAN  lUCES  OF  AMKUICA. 


reni.iiuiii;,^  Wiirriors  liuviii^  yielded  themselves  prisoners, 
or  been  tuken  by  the  viirious  bands  of  Indians  friendly  to 
the  whites,  Blaek-IIawk  surrendered  himself  at  Prairie  dii 
Chien,  on  tht^  27th  of  August.  With  several  other  eliiefs 
he  was  taken  to  Vv^ashington,  and  after  holding  eoiilerence 
with  l'resid(Mit  Jaekson,  was  eontined,  ihv  a  period,  at  Fort 
Monroe,  on  an  island  near  Old  Point  Comfort,  on  tlic  Chcsii- 
peake.  Here  the  captive  warriors  were  well  and  kindly 
treated,  and  in  June,  of  the  ensuing  year  (1883),  there  tir- 
ing no  longer  any  neecssity  for  dctaini)ig  them  as  hostages, 
they  were  set  at  liberty. 

Before  returning  to  the  west,  these  chiefs  visited  several 
of  the  principal  eastern  cities,  and  were  every  where  ic- 
ceived  with  the  greatest  enthusiasm  and  in1cr(>st.  'I'licy 
were  slunvn  the  fortifications,  navy-yards,  i^e.,  and  every 
(^fl'ort  was  made  to  impress  them  with  the  ii'resistible  ]>o\ver 
of  the  government.  They  were  afterwards  escoi-ted  iiack- 
to  their  homes  at  the  west,  and  dismissed  with  valuahlo 
presents  and  tokens  of  good-Avill. 

Blaek-IIawk  lived  thenceforth  in  jieace  with  the  whitoH. 
lie  settle(l  uptm  the  Des  Moines  river,  where  he  died  in 
1838.  The  body  of  the  old  warrior,  in  accordance  with 
his  own  wislies,  expressed  shortly  In.'fore  his  death,  was 
disposed  in  Indian  style.  According  to  Drake:  "No  grave 
Avas  made;  but  his  body  was  placed  in  a  sitting  position, 
Avith  his  cane  betAvecm  his  knees  and  grasped  in  his  hands; 
slabs  f)r  rails  were  then  jiilecl  up  about  him.  Such  was  the 
end  of  P>lack-llawk.  IJcre,  however,  his  boui's  did  luit 
long  rest  in  ])cace,  but  thoy  Avcre  stolen  from  tlunr  place  of 
deposit  some  time  in  the  folloAving  winter;  but  about  a  year 
after,  it  was  discovered  that  th(>y  Avere  in  possession  of  a 
surgeon,  of  (iuincy,  Illinois,  to  Avhom  some  person  had 
sent  them  to  be  Avircd  together.  When  (Governor  Lucas, 
of  Iowa,  became  accpiaintcd  with  the  i'acts,  they  Avcrc,  by 
his  requisition,  restored  to  his  friends." 


INDIANS  OF  THE  SOUTIIKRN   STATES. 


CHAPTKll  I. 

EARLY   LOCATION,  NtJMHEHS,  CllAnACTKIl,   KTC,  OK  Till'.  CATAWnAS; 
OF  THE  iJl'l'ER   AND   LOWER   CHEIIOKEES  ;     OF    THE    MIKSCOGEES 

OK  OUKKKS;    OF  THE  f'lIOCTAWS  ;    OF  THE  ('MICKASAWS 

FRENCH   WAR  WITH  THE  NATCHEZ  ANLI  CHlClvASAWS. 

Wk  sliall  not  undertake  to  assign  dollnitc  boviiularies  to 
tlic several  traetsofeoiuitrvoecupied  l»y  the  extensive  tribes 
ol' the  Creeks,  Cherokt-es,  Choeiuws,  C'liiekasaws,  Catawbas, 
Ueliei  s,  i^e.,  nor  to  pursue  their  liistory,  separatt^ly.  Tlierc 
are  no  sullieieiit  distinctions  in  their  general  liabits  and 
cliaracter  to  render  such  a  detjiil  necessary,  and  as  they 
were  nearly  all  more  or  less  all'eetcd  by  the  same  ])olitieal 
events  and  changes,  they  can  be  best  considered  collec- 
tively. The  name  of  Creeks,  (an  Knglish  term,  taken 
from  the  character  of  the  country  they  inhabited,)  lias  been 
a])plie(l  to  all  the  tribes  above  mentioned. 

James  Adair,  a  trader  and  resident  among  tlie  Soiithcrn 
Lillians  for  forty  years,  in  his  History  of  the  American 
Indians,  published  in  177"),  gives  the  most  complete  ac- 
count of  these  races  to  be  found  in  the  early  Avriters.  The 
principal  portion  of  his  book  is  devoted  to  a  labored  dis- 
quisition upon  the  origin  of  the  red  men,  and  arguments 
to  prove  their  descent  from  the  Jews:  the  rest  consists  of 
separate  details  of  the  manners  and  history  of  the  southern 
tribes,  with  observations  and  anecdotes  connected  with  the 
race  in  general. 


".-i 


't    K 


1  ■■\[*' 


,.l 


^:.. 


..•'ttjCf., 


■'!''- 


i 


ysi 


INDIAN  HACKS  OF  AMKKU'A. 


lie  t:()iiitiu'iici'.s  with  tlio  Caluwltas,  who  then  dwch,  lio- 
tweeu  tho  Caroliiias  and  thi-  cutnitry  of  tlio  C'hcrokoos. 
IV,-  iiitorcotirso  with  the  whites,  they  had  becoiiie  iuoih" 
df^^i'adi'd  than  tlio  other  nations  of  which  \ve  are  now 
t(;  s|»eal<,  and  drnnkenness,  in(h)KMiee,  and  poverty  were 
oljvionsiy  iiievalent.  They  were  a  nuinerons  and  warlike 
])Coi»le  when  Soulli  Can)lina  was  lirst  settled,  ninstcriiifr 
about  lifteen  liundred  warriors;  Itnt  small-pox  anil  the  use 
1)1'  ardent  spirits  had,  at  this  time,  redueed  them  to  less 
than  one-tenth  of  their  former  numbers. 

'I'lu'v  were  old  enemies  of  the  Froipiois,  with  whom  they 
luul  wa^M'd  lon<jf  and  sava^a^  wars:  with  the  Kn,Li,lish  they 
Inid  j^'enerally  been  upon  fjjood  terms.  Adair  describes  an 
old  waste  Held,  seven  miles  in  extent,  as  mie  of  the  cvi- 
deuces  of  their  former  ))rosperity,  when  they  could  "cul- 
tivate so  much  land  with  their  dull  stone-axes."  ( )f  tlicsc, 
as  of  other  Indians,  he  says:  '' lly  some  fatality  thcv  arc 
much  addicted  to  excessive  drinking.'';  and  s|)ii'ltu()us  li- 
quors distract  them  so  exeeedinj^dy,  that  they  will  eviii 
eat  live  coals  of  tire.'' 

The  Upper  Cherokecs  iidiabitcd  the  hiffli  and  mountain- 
ous region  of  the  A]tpalacliian  ranjre,  and  that  upon  tlic 
ui){)er  portions  of  the  'I'ennessee.  The  Jiower  tribe  occu- 
pied  the  country  around  the  lu>ad  Avaters  of  theSavannali 
and  Chatahoochec,  to  the  northward  of  the  Muscotrccs 
or  Creeks  ])roper.     When  Adair  lirst  became  ac(|uainlr(l 

■\vitli  the  Cherokees,  about  tlie  year  IToo,  they  wvn m- 

jmted  by  old  traders  to  ninnber  six  thousand  li;^htin^'  men. 
They  had  sixty-four  popidons  towns.  ]n  17o8,  nearly 
half  of  them  jicrishcd  by  the  small-p(jx. 

Like  all  the  other  untau_Lrht  nations  of  Aincrica,  tlicv 
were  driven  to  ])erfect  desperation  by  the  ravages  of  this 
disease.  The  cause  to  which  they  ascribed  it,  and  tlio 
strange  remedies  and  enchantments  used  to  stay  its  ])rogrcss, 
arc   alike   renuirkable.     One  course  was   to  j)lunge  tlic 


,1   ,.,;.     ■  1 


F 


tlll'll    tlwclt    1)1'-     I 

till'  ('li('ri)l<(H's.    1 

I     Ih'COIIU'     11H)1'(! 

li  \vc  iiro  now 
1  poverty  wt^rc 
MIS  iuiil  waiiiki' 
tli'il,  iniistrriiijr 
pox  tiiid  the  uw 
'd  them   to  less 

A'ith  whom  thev 
le  l']ii,i;;Hsh  they 
hiii'  ilcserihes  ;\n 
one  ol'  the  evi- 
hey  could  •'  eiil- 
xes."  ( )!'  tliese, 
I'iitivlity  they  arc 
n\  s[)iritiioiis  li- 
tlii'v  will  even 

1  jiiid  mountain' 

I  tliiit  upon  tilt' 

)wer  trilie  occii- 

r  the  Savaiiiiuli 

the   Muscof^'ees 

■aiiie  aetpiaiiitfil 

they  were  eoni- 

il  li;ihtin_if  men. 

J II   iTu8,  nearly 

r  Aineriea,  they 

rav.ige.s  of  this 

lied  it,  and  tlic 

stay  its  jiroirress, 

to  plunge  tlic 


INDIANS  OF  TIIK  SOUTHKUN  STATES. 


885 


po 

luM 


patents  into  cold  running,'  water— (it  is  eJsewliere  men- 
tioned that  those  ufllieti-d  will  IVetpieiifly  lenj)  into  the 
river  tlieniscdves  to  allay  the  lever  ainl  torment) — the  re- 
sult of  which  operation  was  speedily  I'ntal.  "  A  ^'roat  numy 
killed  themselvi's;  for,  being  naturally  ju'oiid,  they  art> 
always  peeping  into  their  looking-glasses.— Dy  which 
means,  seeing  themselves  disdgured,  without  hope  of  re- 
gaining their  former  beauty,  some  shot  themselves,  others 
cut  their  throats,  some  stabbed  themselves  with  knives,  and 
others  with  sharp-jiointcd  canes;  many  threw  themselves 
with  sullen  madness  into  the  lire,  and  there  slowly  ex- 
pired, as  if  tliey  had  been  utterly  divested  of  the  native 

wer  of  leeling  jiain."     One;  of  them,  when   his  friends 

1  restrained  thest;  IVantie  elVort.s,  and  depii\ed  him  ol' 
his  weapons,  went  out,  and  taking  "a  thick  ami  round 
Ime-lK'lve,  lixed  one  end  of  it  in  the  ground,  and  repeat- 
cilly  threw  himself  on  it  till  he  forced  it  down  his  throat! 
when  he  iininediately  expired." 

These  tribes  were  formerly  continually  at  war  with  the 
Six  Nation.s,  at  the  iioitli,  and  with  the  Mu.scogces  at  the 
south;  but  ]>revious  to  their  war  with  the  Knglish  colonies 
tlioy  had  been  for  .^ome  time  comparatively  at  ))eace,  and 
were  in  a  thriving  and  prosperous  condition.  Thev  were 
excellently  well  supplieil  with  horses,  and  were  "skillful 
jockiea,  and  nice  in  their  choice." 

The  h)wer  settlement  of  the  ^[uscogees  or  Creeks,  was 
ill  the  country^  watered  by  the  Cliatahotn'liec  and  l^'lint; 
the  upper  Creeks  dwelt  about  the  head  waters  of  the 
Mobik-  and  Alabama  rivers.  Their  neighbors,  on  the 
west,  wore  tlie  Choctaws  and  Cliiekasaws. 

The  Creeks  wei-e  a  nation  formed  by  tlic  union  of  a 
nuialier  of  minor  tribes  with  the  ^[llscogees,  who  constituted 
the  nucleus  of  the  combination.  About  the  middle  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  they  were  comimted  to  number  no 
less  than   three  thousand  five  hundred  men 


25 


xpablc 


■if  .'I;:; 


;a'v|/;' 


1. 

■'>• 


■   1  f. 


.;t»'-      ■-.?.■ 


■Ml 


:«■  Ka!?<-t 


't  ■ ' 


;J|^  ■  *  ■■  ^ 


'\t. 


^'^^M 


'/'■it 


SSG 


INDIAN  HACES  OF  AMLRICA. 


bearing  arms.  They  liad  learned  tlie  necessity  of  seclud- 
ing those  infected  with  the  small-pox,  so  as  to  avoid  the 
spread  of  the  contagion,  and  their  general  habits  and 
usag(  s  were  such  that  they  were  fast  increasing,  instead 
of  diniinishing,  like  all  the  surrounding  tribes. 

While  the  Floridas  were  in  the  possession  of  Spain,  the 
Creeks  were  surrounded  by  belligerent  powers,  both  native 
and  European,  and  they  appear  to  have  adopted  a  very 
shrewd  and  artful  policy  in  their  intcrci  rse  with  each. 
There  was  a  French  garrison  in  their  country ;  the  English 
settlements  lay  to  the  north  and  east,  and  those  of  the 
Spp.ii'ards  to  the  south;  and  the  old  sages  of  chc  tribe 
"being  long  informed  by  the  opposite  parties  of  the  dif- 
ferent views  and  intrigues  of  those  foreign  powers,  wlio 
paid  them  annual  tribute  under  the  vague  api)ellation  of 
presents,  were  become  surprisingly  crafty  in  every  turn 
of  low  politics."  The  French  were  very  successful  in  their 
efforts  to  conciliate  the  good-will  of  the  Muscogccs,  and  in 
alienating  them  from  the  English. 

The  country  of  the  Choctaws  extended  from  that  of  tlio 
Muscogees  to  the  ^Tississip])i,  roaching  northward  to  the 
boundaries  of  the  Chickasaws:  their  lower  towns  on  tlie 
river  were  about  two  hundred  miles  north  of  New  Oi- 
lcans. 7\dair  gives  these  people  a  very  bad  character,  as 
being  treacherous,  dishonest,  ungrateful,  and  unscruj)ulous; 
but  he  bears  witness  to  their  admirable  readiness  of  s})e  ch. 
They  were  "ready-witted,  and  endued  with  a  surj)risiiig 
flow  of  smooth,  artful  language  on  every  subject  wiliiiu 
the  reach  of  their  ideas." 

The  strange,  custom  of  flattening  the  head,  prevalent 
among  some  other  vVmerican  tribes,  obtained  witli  tlic 
Choctaws.  Tlie  o[)efation  was  performed  by  the  weij^iit 
of  a  bag  of  sand  ke])t  upon  the  foreheads  of  the  infants  be- 
fore the  skull  had  hardened.  This  process  not  improbably 
affected  the  powers  of  the  mind:  at  all  events,  Adair  says: 


INDIANS  OF  THE  SOUTHERN  STATES. 


387 


•'their  features  and  mind  exactly  correspond  together; 
lor,  except  the  intense  love  they  bear  to  their  native  coun- 
try, and  their  utter  contempt  of  any  kind  of  danger  in 
defence  of  it,  I  know  no  other  virtue  they  are  possessed 
of:  the  general  observation  of  the  traders  among  tliem  is 
just,  who  affirm  tJiem  to  be  divested  of  every  property  of 
a  human  being,  except  shape  and  language." 

The  French  had  acquired  great  influence  over  the  Choc  • 
taws,  as,  indeed,  over  nearly  every  tribe  in  North  America 
with  whom  they  had  maintained  friendly  intercourse. 
Adair  enlarges  upon  the  artful  policy  with  which  they 
conciliated  and  bribed  the  leaders  and  orators  of  the  nation, 
l?esides  this,  he  says:  "the  masterly  skill  of  the  French 
enabled  them  to  do  more  with  those  savages,  with  trifles, 
than  all  our  experienced  managers  of  Indian  alfairs  have 
l)ccn  able  to  effect  by  the  great  quantities  of  valuable 
goods  they  gave  them  with  a  very  profuse  hand.  The 
former  bestowed  their  small  favors  with  exquisite  wisdom  ; 
and  their  value  was  exceedingly  enhanced  by  the  external 
kindly  behavior  and  well -adapted  smooth  address  of  the 
dver." 

The  nation  of  the  Chickasaws,  at  the  time  of  which  we 
arc  speaking,  was  settled  near  the  sources  of  the  Tombigl)ec, 
a  few  miles  eastward  of  the  head  waters  of  the  Tallahache. 
They  numbered  about  four  hundred  and  fifty  warriors, 
but  were  greatly  reduced  since  their  ancient  emigTation 
from  the  west.  They  were  said  to  have  formerly  consti- 
tuted one  family  with  the  Choctaws,  and  to  have  been 
able  to  bring  one  thousand  men  into  the  field  at  the  time 
of  their  removal.  Due  allowance  must  of  course  be  made 
for  mistake  and  cxagg(n'ation  in  these  early  traditions. 

The  Chickasaws  were  ever  inimical  to  the  Frencli  and 
fricTidly  to  the  Kuglish  colonists.  It  was  by  their  efforts 
that  the  neighboring  tribe  of  the  Natchez;  was  stirred  up 
to  attack  the  French  settlements,  in  1729.     The  French 


i: 


-ki  ♦ml  P 


-,■         ■      .r?';'   .'151 


■  ■■: '   ■ ;  (i^ 


I'ji  (.<■■,■.,  .■ 


:f 


I'.','.. 


888 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


'if.  ■ 


■'■■■i";vV:i'*- 


Lad,  unadvisedly,  imposed  a  species  of  tax  upon  the 
Natchez,  demanding  a  dressed  buck-skin  from  each  man 
of  the  tribe,  without  rendering  any  return ;  but,  as  some 
of  that  people  afterwards  reported  to  Adair,  "the  warriors' 
hearts  grew  very  cross,  and  loved  the  deer-skins." 

The  Chickasaws  were  not  slow  to  foment  a  disturbance 
upon  intelligence  of  this  proceeding,  and  sent  messengers, 
Avith  presents  of  pipes  and.  'o'oacco,  to  counsel  an  attack 
upon  the  exercisers  of  sucl.  lyc'-nny.  Nothing  so  strongly 
excites  an  Indian's  indignation  as  any  attemj)t  at  taxation, 
and  the  Natchez  were  easily  persuaded  that  the  French  hud 
resol V  cd  to  crush  and  enslave  them.  It  took  about  a  year  to 
ripen  the  plot,  as  the  Indians  arc  "slow  in  their  councils  on 
things  of  great  importance,  though  equally  close  and  intent." 

It  was  in  the  month  of  November,  (1729,)  that  the  In- 
dians fell  upon  the  French  settlement.  The  connnandarit 
had  received  some  intimation  of  the  intended  attack  from 
a  woman  of  the  tribe,  but  did  not  place  nufficient  depend- 
ence upon  it  to  take  any  elUcicnt  steps  for  the  protection 
of  his  charge.  The  whole  colony  was  massacred:  men, 
women  and  children,  to  the  nnmber  of  over  seven  hun- 
dred— Adair  says  iift(;en  luuidred-— })erished  by  the  weap- 
ons of  the  savages.  The  triumph  of  the  Natchez  wu.<, 
however,  but  of  short  duration.  The  French  came  upon 
them  in  the  following  summer  with  a  largo  army,  consistiiiif 
of  two  thousand  of  their  own  soldiers  and  r  great  array  of 
their  Choctaw  allies.  The  Natchez  were  posted  at  a  strong 
fcn't  near  a  lake  communicating  with  the  Bayou  D'Argont, 
and  1  eived  the  assailants  with  great  resolution  and  conr- 
age.  They  made  a  vigorous  sally,  as  the  enemy  ajijiroach- 
ed,  bat  were  driven  within  their  defences,  and  "bombarded 
with  three  mortars,  which  forced  them  to  fly  off  different 
ways."  The  Choctaws  took  many  prisoners,  some  of  whom 
were  tortured  to  death,  and  the  rest  shipped  to  the  West 
Indies  as  slaves. 


^^■.^:^^' 


INDIANS  OF  TUE  SOUTHERN  STATES. 


380 


The  remnant  of  the  ISTatcliez  fled  for  safety  to  the  Chicka- 
saws.  This  brought  about  a  war  between  the  Frencli  and 
the  last-mentioned  tribe,  in  which,  if  we  may  beheve 
Adair,  the  Indians  had  decidedly  the  advantage.  He  tells 
of  one  engagement,  in  which  the  French  and  their  Indian 
allies  had  surrounded  tlie  Cliickasaw  settlements  in  the 
night,  witli  the  exce2:)tion  of  one,  which  stood  at  some  dis- 
tance froni  the  rest,  called  Amalahta.  The  besiegers  beset 
every  house,  and  killed  all  who  came  out:  "but  at  the 
dawn  of  day,  when  they  were  capering  and  using  those 
flourishes  thiit  are  peculiar  to  that  volatile  nation,  the  other 
town  drew  round  them,  stark  naked,  and  painted  all  over 
red  and  black;  thus  they  attacked  them,  killed  numbers 
on  the  spot,  released  their  brethren,  who  joined  them  like 
enraged  lions."  The  Indians  belonging  to  the  French 
party  fled,  but  the  whites  were  all  killed  except  two,  "an 
ollicer,  and  a  negroe,  who  faithfully  held  his  horse  till  ho 
mounted,  and  then  ran  along  side  of  him.  A  couj)le  of 
swift  runners  were  sent  after  them,  who  soon  came  up 
with  them,  and  told  them  to  live  and  go  home,  and  inform 
their  people,  that  as  the  Chickasah  hogs  had  now  a  plenty 
of  ugly  Frencli  carcases  to  feed  on  till  next  year,  they 
hoped  then  to  have  another  visit  from  them  and  their  red 
friends;  and  that,  as  messengers,  they  wished  them  safe 
home." 

On  another  occasion,  the  same  historian  informs  us  that 
the  French  approached  the  Chickasaw  stockad-^,  strangc^ly 
disguised,  and  protected  from  the  balls  of  the  enemy  by 
paddings  of  wool.  The  Indians  were  to  the  last  degree 
astonished  both  at  their  appearance  and  invulnerability, 
^'nd  were  about  to  desist  from  active  resistance,  and  resort 
tv.  the  skill  of  their  own  necromancers  to  o])pose  what 
they  thought  must  be  "wizards,  or  old  French-men  carry- 
ing the  ark  of  war  against  them."  As  the  enemy  ap- 
proached, and  began  to  throw  hand-grenades  into  the  fort, 


, 


•  ■■■'■    '''1  ■■'ti5"i''Vi5 


■■[.:,.  '[     .-4 

..M 

<■'  •'  >;  '•.»(.:'■;(<■' 

r'M 

:,.^s-W.? 

:.     ■'    '.   >  '(.4 

■    ■■■  ■,■1)1;. 

i^ 


■■(-    •■ 


i 


oOO 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


thc}^  were  quickly  undeceived,  and  set  in  earnest  about 
tlic  work  of  defence.  They  pulled  the  matches  out  of  the 
grenades,  or  threw  them  back  among  the  French ;  and,  sal- 
l^-ing  forth,  directed  an  effective  fire  at  the  iCgs  of  the 
enemy,  wlio  were  speedily  driven  off.  "I  have  two  of 
these  shells,"  says  Adair,  "which  I  keep  with  veneration 
as  speaking  trophies  over  the  boasting  Monsieurs  and 
their  bloody  schemes." 


CHAPTER  II. 

colonization  of  georgia early  intercourse  with  the  natives 

— toimociiicltl intrigues  of  the  reverend  thojias  bosom- 

worth cherokee  war  of    1759 attakullakulla  and 

occonostota — murder  of    indian    hostages — colonel 
Montgomery's  ey-^  dition — destruction  of  the  east- 
ern  cherokee  towns battle  near  etchoe ca- 
pitulation at  fort  loudon indian  treachery 

—campaign  of  colonel  grant,  and  complete 
reduction  of  the  cherokees. 

When  the  little  colony  of  one  hundred  and  fourteen 
souls,  under  the  guidance  of  James  Kdward  Oglelhorpe, 
commenced  the  settlement  of  fJeorgia,  in  the  winter  of 
1733,  the  upper  and  lower  Creeks  laid  claim  to  the  whole 
territory  soutli-W(^st  of  the  Savannah.  The  only  natives 
residing  in  the  vicinity — at  Yamaeraw — were  {)ca('oably 
disposed  towards  the  settlers,  but  the  governor  ol'  the  in- 
fant colony  thought  it  advisable  to  put  himself  ui)ou  safe 
grounds  as  respected  tiie  Indian  claims,  lie  therefore 
secured  the  services  of  a  half-breed  woman,  named  ^lary 
Musgrove,  who  could  speak  English,  and,  by  her  mcdiii- 
tion,  brought  about  a  confei-euce  with  the  chiefs  of  the 
tribe  at  Savannah,  the  scat  of  the  new  settlement. 


_.Ji 


)  ■ 


'     '         ''Hi' 


INDIANS  OF  THE  SOUTHERN  STATES. 


391 


Mary  hud  formerly  married  a  white  trader  from  Caro- 
lina. Besides  her  iisefulnct's  as  an  interpreter,  she  had 
such  influence  over  her  tribe,  that  Oglethori)e  thought  it 
worth  his  while  to  purchase  her  services  at  the  rate  of  one 
hundred  pounds  a  year.  She  became  afterwards,  as  we 
shall  see,  a  source  of  no  little  danger  and  annoyance  to 
the  Knglish. 

Fifty  chiefs  of  the  Creek  nation  were  assembled  at  the 
place  of  conference,  and  Tomochichi,  the  most  noted 
among  those  then  known  to  the  settlers,  made  an  amica- 
ble speech,  proffering  at  the  same  time  a  pi'csent  of  a 
builiilo-skin,  adorned  with  eagles'  feathers.  A  treaty  was 
concluded,  subject  to  the  ratification  of  the  English  crown, 
by  virtue  of  which  the  Indians  were  to  consider  them- 
selves the  subjects  of  tiie  king,  and  to  live  in  peace  and 
friendship  with  his  white  colonists.  The  lands  lying  be- 
tween tlie  Savannah  and  Altamaha.  were  made  over  to  the 
English,  with  all  the  islands  on  that  coast,  except  St.  Catha- 
rine's and  two  ot'ers,  which  were  reserved  for  the  use  of 
the  Indians  as  bathing  and  fishing  stations.  A  tract  was 
also  set  apart  fo"  them  to  encamp  upon  when  tliey  visited 
their  white  friends,  a  little  above  the  Yamacraw  bluff, 
where  Savannah  now  stands.  Various  other  stipulations, 
respecting  terms  of  trade,  the  piuiishment  of  oiVeuces,  &c., 
were  entered  into,  to  the  satisfaction  of  both  pa''ties. 

In  April,  178-1,  Oglethorjie  took  Tomochichi,  his  queen, 
and  several  other  Indians  with  him  to  England.  They 
were  presented  to  the  king,  and  every  pains  was  taken  to 
produce  a  strong  impression  upon  their  minds  of  the 
Eiiglisli  power  and  magnificence.  All  the  Indians  with 
whom  the  first  governor  of  Georgia  held  intercourse  seem 
to  have  formed  a  great  attachment  for  him,  styling  him  their 
"beloved  man."  If  others  in  authority  among  the  English 
colonies  had  pursued  as  honest  a  ci)urse  towards  the  natives, 
much  bloodshed  would  doubtless  have  been  averted. 


'l^liiiA 


'  :'  ;'■'■'    \'  '■ 

I .,    ;•  'c  ■ 

J,"  f 
* '.' 

...It  ; 
'1    * 


'■li^'. 


',';.,"    ;.;r''. ,■■,■'■',. .  =m 

'■'"■■■' all  •  ■'   'i^'*"/' t/-' '■'■     'rll 

m 


■■^f 


■■i'y\ 


M^.:[l'^:%:.^- 


%. 


;  t,  •-'• 


■•■  •:  I 


i       i; 


'^'i  WH^'^' 


i- 


=T1 


302 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AMERICA. 


Wlicn  diiricultics  arose  in  1738,  comict'ted  with  the  con- 
flicting chiiins  of  Eiighmd  and  Spain  to  jiiriridiction  over 
the  new  country,  Sj[ninish  agents  wore  disjiatched  to  win 
over  the  Creeks,  They  decoyed  a  body  of  them  to  Au- 
gustine, by  j^retcnces  that  Oglethorpe  was  there,  and  thnt 
he  was  desirous  of  seeing  thein.  On  their  arrival,  the 
Indians  were  told  that  the  English  governor  was  sick  on 
board  one  of  the  ships;  but  they  had  begun  to  susjiect 
deception,  and,  refusing  to  go  out  to  the  vessel,  left  the 
town  in  great  disgust.  Their  suspicions  were  conrirniiMl 
when  they  reached  home,  and  the  transaction  oidystrength- 
enetl  their  dislike  to  the  Spaniards. 

In  the  following  year,  Oglethorpe  attended  a  great  as- 
sembly of  Creeks,  Cherokees,  and.  Chickasaws,  at  the 
Coweta  town,  several  hundred  miles  from  Fredei'iea,  and 
confirmed  their  good-will  towards  the  English  by  presents, 
and  friendly  communion.  He  smoked  the  calumet  witii 
the  chiefs,  and  solemnly  renewed  the  origiiuil  ti-eaty  df 
amity  and  mutual  protection.  This  year  old  Tomocliirlii 
died,  not  fai'  from  Yamacraw,  exi)ressing  to  the  last  liis 
love  for  his  first  English  patron,  and  urging  upon  liis 
j)eoplc  tlic  ])o]icy  of  maintaining  their  place  in  his  good- 
will.    The  chief  was  nearly  nin(!ty-seven  years  of  age. 

The  year  17-i9  was  menioral)le  tor  a  most  audacious 
attem})t  on  the  jtart  of  one  Thomas  Bosomworth  to  ;i,u- 
grandize  himself  by  attaining  a  supremacy  over  the  Creeks. 
He  had  been  formerly  a  chaplain  in  Oglethor})e's  regiment, 
and  had  married  Mary  Musgrovc,  his  halfbreed  intei'])ro- 
ter.  In  December,  of  1747,  this  man  fell  in  v.'ith  a  c(Mn- 
pany  of  chiefs,  belonging  to  the  nation,  then  on  a  visit  to 
Frederica;  and  persuaded  thcnr  to  sign  certain  articles, 
acknowledging  one  of  their  number,  named  Malatclie 
Opiya  Meco,  as  rightful  king  over  the  whole  Creek  nation. 
Bosomworth  then  jirocured  from  Malatclie  a  conveyance, 
for  certain  considerations — among  other  things,  a  largo 


1  with  tlic  con- 
riridiction  over 
);itelicd  to  win 
f  thcni  to  Au- 
tlicve,  tind  that 
iir  arrival,  tlio 
or  Avas  sick  on 
^un  to  suspect 
vessel,  left  the 
vere  conlirnicd 
1  only  streiij^'tli- 


ded  a  great  as- 
vasaws,   at   the 
Frederica,  ami 
ish  by  presents, 
e  calinnet  with 
i^inal  treaty  of 
)ld  Toniochichi 
to  the  last  his 
ging   upon  his 
ice  in  liis  giKul- 
cars  of  age. 
nost  audacious 
u worth  to  ag- 
ver  the  Creeks. 
rpe's  n\u'inient, 
breed  interpre- 
in  \,'ith  a  com- 
■n  on  a  visit  to 
■ertain  articles, 
inied    Malatche   ; 
e  Creek  nation,   j 
}  a  conveyanco, 
things,  a  largo   i 


r  ff  r.    y.  .1  (i  1.  /; . 

T!!is  mible  liird,  various  jpocUw  of  wliii-li  uri'  luiiml  in  AiiU'iicii,  wiis  coTisideii'd  by 
llic  Iii<li:iiis,  ;i(>  !('«»  Iliiiii  hymir  own  \\kw\*  -.-'.A  wi'ilcr-",  u  t'miiii:  lypc  nl'-iwiriiii'SH,  stri'iigih, 
anil  priiud  Buporicnily.  Uis  I'liillii  ri  ciiri-iilulr.l  ;i  kinu'ly  uriiriininl.  iinil  wiTf  In  Id  worthy 
(!ifls  111  till'  nililli-iiliiiii  III'  iinpnii:iiil  Irciilii'S,  Tin'  nld  cliii'f  Tiimiu'Miclii,  wlirii  iiurnduoed 
lu  Kiiii;  (;i'nri;o  U.,  Jirnirrrri'd  si'ViTiil  i'ai.'li's'  IValliiTs  In  Itic  iiimiairli,  Willi  llii'  ii'iniirk  ; 


-Till' 


nil'  tlii>  I'l'Ullii'rs  iif  tlie  caiili-.  wliii'li    iJ   llir   swil'h'sl  of  liinli. 


mI  who  llii'lli    all 


rnuiiil  "iir  iialiiiii!".     Tlii'«>  fralhcr.'*  air  a  :<ii;n  nf  piMiiM'  in  mir  land,  and  wi;  liavii  hruughl 
Uiem  uvcc  to  Kiavi^  .iicin  Willi  you,  Bieul  kini{,  as  n  ^»i^;ll  of  I'VcilmtiiiK  puact)." 


.:''^;:i 


,1  i  .■    lyri 

■'3 

■V  ■'■.•'I 


L  y-K  ««i 


i  ti 


w ' 

1 

'  i  '^ 

j; 


m 


■.r:;;.? 


".■■    :    *U  i 


^''■'j'T 

'  il'''''];  ,?'"*"     j'\  f 

Hlt- 

jKa  I 


ii^k  t 


I. V  /I  I.I  .V     v  /.  7    /■  /.  K  M  F.  .V  7', 


€^ 


il%\  f.h 


INDIANS  OB^  TUE  SOUTIIEUN  STATES. 


893 


quantity  of  aininuiiitioti  iiiid  clothing, — of  the  islands 
lonncrly  irservud  by  the  Indiiuis,  to  himself  and  his  wife 
Mary,  their  heirs  and  assigns,  "as  long  as  tlu;  sun  shall 
sliine,  or  the  waters  run  in  the  rivers,  forever."  This  deed 
was  regularly  witnesse<l,  pi'ovcd  before  a  justiec  of  the 
peace,  and  recorded  in  due  form.  Bosoniw(>rth  made 
some  efforts  to  stock  and  imj)r()ve  these  islands,  but,  his 
ambition  becoming  arousi'd  by  success  in  his  lirst  intrigue, 
lie  entered  upon  one  nnich  more  extensive  By  his  per- 
suasions, his  wife  now  made  the  extraordinary  clahu  tiiat 
she  was  Malatche's  elder  sister,  and  entitled  to  regal  au- 
thority over  the  whole  Creek  territory. 

A  great  meeting  (jf  the  tribe  was  jirocured,  and,  what- 
ever of  ti'utli  Mary's  claims  might  be  founded  upon,  she 
appeans  to  have  succeeded  in  j)ersuading  large  numbers 
of  the  Creeks  to  espouse  her  cause,  and  acknowledge  her 
as  an  ind(>pendent  (pieen.  Accompanied  by  a  strong  force 
of  her  adherents,  she  proceeded  incontinentl}'  to  Savannah, 
sending  emiss;iries  before  ht>r  to  demand  a  surrender  of 
all  lands  south  of  the  Savannah  river,  and  to  make  known 
her  intention  of  enforcing  her  claim  b  /  the  entire  destruc- 
tion of  the  colony,  should  her  demands  be  resisted. 

'J'he  militia  were  called  out  by  the  president  and  council, 
and  the  Indians  were  ]<.c\)t  cpiiet  by  a  disi)lay  of  conlidence 
and  Jirnmess,  that  matters  might  be  fully  diseussed  by 
their  leaders  and  the  colonial  authorities.  "  Bosomworth," 
says  MeCall,  "in  his  canonical  robes,  with  his  (pieen  by 
his  side,  followed  by  the  kings  and  chiefs,  according  to 
rank,  marched  into  the  town  on  the  20th  of  July,  making 
a  most  formidable  api)earance. — The  inhabitants  were 
struck  with  terror  at  the  sight  of  this  ferocious  tribe  of 
savages." 

Lengthy  discussions  ensued,  between  Bosomwortli  and 
Mary  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  president  and  council  on 
the  other.      The  fickle   and  ini})ressible  savages  leaned 


'(•' 


!,!>;»•'■■*'.•■■. 


.'I.'T'V 


J  1  ■ 


t'*-.-'. 


894 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMKUICA. 


nltt'i'iuilcly  to  eitlicr  ()[)itii<)M  iiccordiiif,'  iis  they  were  lijir- 
aiiguod  by  their  now  U-iulrrs,  i»r  listi'iu-d  to  the  e'\[>l:ui;itiou8 
of  the  other  party.  They  were  toht  that  Mary's  ehiims  to 
royal  descent  were  entirely  false;  that  she  was  the  daughter 
of  a  white  man  by  a  s([naw  of  no  note,  and  that  the  luiul 
ambition  of  her  reprobate  husband  had  led  to  tlie  whole 
movement.  T  'y  expressed  themselves  convinced,  but 
no  sooner  had  ^fi.ry  obtained  another  oi)|)ortunity  to  com- 
municate witli  th(Mu,  than  she  succeeded  in  inflaming  and 
bewildering  their  minds.  It  was  found  necessary  to  con- 
fine her  and  her  husband  before  the  savages  could  ho 
quietly  dispersed. 

Befon;  this  wasaccomjilished,  the  town  was  in  a  situation 
of  the  most  inuninent  danger,  as  the  Indians  vastly  out- 
numbered the  whites;  and  a  very  slight  matter  might 
have  so  roused  their  furv  that  the  whole  colony  would 
have  been  annihilated.  The  intriguing  eluiplain  hail  a 
brother,  Adam  Bosomwoi'th,  ngent  lor  Indian  affairs  in 
Carolina,  wdio  afterwards  espoused  his  interests,  so  far  as  the 
claim  to  the  islands  of  St.  Catharine.  O.ssabaw,  and  Sitjielo 
was  concerned.  This  coadjutor  visited  the  Creek  nation, 
{irooired  a  new  conveyance,  and  pro.secuted  the  claim 
before  the  courts  of  Great  Britain.  The  case  proveil  almost 
as  tedious  and  complex  as  that  of  the  celebrated  Moliegiui 
land  ([u<  sti()n  in  Connecticut.  Bosomwortii  and  his  wife 
obtaini'd  u  decision  in  their  favor,  in  IToO,  by  virtue  of 
which  they  tcok  [)ossession  of  St.  Catharine's  island,  and 
resided  u|)oii  it  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Ossabaw  and 
Sapi'lo  were  'lecreed  to  be  sold  lor  the  benefit  of  the  suc- 
cessful parties,  but  fui'ther  litigation  arose  from  the  clainis 
of  one  Isaac  Levy,  to  whom  they  had  sold,  as  was  asserted, 
a  moiety  of  that  portion  of  the  grant. 

The  breaking  out  of  the  Cherokee  war,  in  the  winter  of 
this  year,  (1759,)  is  the  next  eve';^  of  special  interest,  con- 
nected with  the  affairs  of  the  Sol '  Kern  Indians.     "J'hcv 


.'1*1,, '  ' 


liry  wore  lisir- 

0  oxiilimiitioiis 
iry's  I'lahiis  id    : 
s  the  (laiiglitrr 

1  that  the  mini 
1  to  llu!  whole 
'onviiK'fd,  l)iit, 
•tuiiity  to  coMi- 

indiiiuing  and 
[jcssary  to  coii' 
ages  could  lie 

IS  in  a  situation 

uus  vastly  out- 

matter  ini<:lit 

colony  would 

•liaidain  had  a 

liau  alVairs  in 

4s,  so  far  as  tlic 

w,  and  Saiiclo 

Creek  ruition, 

ited  the   claim 

roved  almost 

rated  MolicLriiii 

and  his  wile 

I,  by  virtue  el' 

i-'s  island,  and 

Ossaliaw  and 

it  of  the  sue- 

i'oru  tlic  claims 

IS  was  asserted, 

1  the  winti'rof 
il  interest,  eoii- 
ndiuns.     They 


INDIAN'S  OF  THE  SOUTIIEIJX  STATES. 


aD5 


I  Befitn  generally  to  liavc  been  pcaccaldy  disposed,  and  lion- 
pst  in  tlie  fulliUtnent  of  their  national  eiigagenieiits,  and 
proliahly  would  have  continued  so,  had  they  met  with  fair 

:  treatment  at  the  h;uids  of  the  Kngiish  colonists.  I'artics 
ofChcrokees,  untler  T?ritish  commaiulers,  had  been  engaged, 
with  the  Knglisli  in  campaigns  against  the  l^'iciieh  fortifi- 
cations at  the  west.  Upon  the  evacuation  of  Kort  Du- 
quesne,  iiunib(>rs  of  tlies(!  Indian  warrior.*^,  whost^  si^rvices 
were  no  longer  rc([uired,  si't  out  upon  their  return  home. 

;   Having  l)een  ill-sup])lied  with  provisions,  aii<l  having  lost 

I  their  horses,  some  of  them  caught  and  availed  themselves 
of  such  of  those  animals  as  they  found  loose  in  the  woods. 
Ill  r(>veiige  for  this  theft,  the  (jornian  settlers  of  Virginia 
fell  up(Ui  tluMu,  and  murdered  and  scalped  a  eonsiderable 
miniber.     They  even  imitated,  in   several  instances,  the 

;  horrible  cruelties  of  the  savages  in  the  manner  of  butch- 
ory— at  least,  so  says  vVdair,  who  further  re{)orts,  that 
"tlios(^  n\urderers  were  so  audacious  as  to  impose  the 
scalps  on  the  government  for  those  of  Kreiich  Indians; 
and  tliat  thev  actuallv  obtaiiKnl  the  iircmium  allowe<l  at 
that  time  by  law  in  such  a  case." 

Tiio  Cherokees  did  not,  for  a  long  time,  attempt  any 
retaliation  for  this  act,  but  made  peaceable  ai)plications  to 
the  authorities  of  Virginia  and  the  Carolinas;  but  all  was 
in  vain,  and  fn^sli  insults  and  injuries,  received  from  cer- 
tain oHicers  at  Fort  St.  (Jeorge,  linally  e.vcited  the  nation 
to  fury.     Adair  says  truly:  "When  the  Indians  llnd  no 

I  redress  of  grievances,  they  never  fail  to  redress  themsehes, 
either  sooner  or  later.  But  when  they  begin,  they  do  not 
know  where  to  end.  7'lieir  thirst  for  the  blood  of  their 
reputed  enemies  is  not  to  be  (pienched  with  a  few  drops. 
The  more  they  drink,  the  more  it  inflames  their  thirst. 
When  they  dip  their  finger  in  human  blood,  they  are  rest- 
less till  they  plunge  themselves  in  it." 
The  French,  and,  at  their  instance,  the  Miuscogees,  Avere 


•'"'•'.SI    »'  J 


/  ^• 


',(■' ' 


I.    • ,» 


■  'S 


^%l  ( .'''"''lAii;'.^?]! 


.i'. 


:1    --'(        •,■ 


"'  1 


\l'^:': 


396 


IXDIAN  :<ACES  OF  AMERICA. 


not  slow  in  nvniling  themselves  of  tlie  above  circumstan- 
ces to  stii"  np  a  war  against  the  English.     The  Cherokoes 
determined  upon  direct  retaliation  for  the  massacres  by 
the  Germans.     A  party,  bound  on  this  errand,  first  killed 
two  soldiers  near  Fort  Loudon,  on  the  south  bank  of  Ten- 
nessee river,  and  afterwards  sj^read  themselves  among  the   i' 
western  settlements  of  North  Carolina,  killing  such  of  the   ' 
whites  as  fell  in  their  power.     It  was  their  first  intention  : 
to  take  scalps  only  equal  in  number  to  that  of  their  niur-   ' 
dercd  kinsmen,  but,  once  having  their  hand  in,  they  could 
not  resist  the  temptation  of  going  much  farther.     "Soon  : 
after  they  returned  home,   they  killed  a  reprobate  old 
trader." 

The  young  warriors,  now  thoroughly  roused  and  excited, 
would  listen  to  no  proposals  of  restraint:  "Nothing  hut 
war-songs  and  war-dances  could  please  them,  dm-ing  this 
flattering  period  of  becoming  great  warriors,  'by  killing 
swarms  of  white  dung-hill  fowls,  in  the  corn-fields,  and 
aslec]),'  according  to  their  war-phrase." 

William  II.  Lyttleton,  governor  of  South  Carolina,  set 
himself  strenuously  both  to  prepare  for  the  defence  of 
the  colonies,  and  to  bring  about  an  adjustment  of  diflicult- 
ies.  At  Fort  St.  George,  on  the  Savannah,  he  held  a  con- 
ference with  six  Cherokee  chiefs,  on  the  26th  of  December 
(1759),  and  formed  a  treaty  of  peace,  secured  by  the  de- 
livery of  thirty-two  Indian  hostages.  These  were  placed 
in  close  confinement  in  a  small  and  miserable  hut,  and  the  i 
governor  returned  to  Charleston. 

According  to  the  usual  course  of  events,  the  Chcrokces 
denied  the  authority  of  the  chiefs  who  had  concluded  tlic  ! 
above  treaty,  and  hostilities  broke  out  afresh.  The  two 
most  celebrated  chiefs  and  leaders  amor.g  them,  at  this 
time,  were  old  Attakullakulla,  a  promoter  of  peace,  and 
long  the  fast  friend  of  the  Fngli.sh,  and  Occonostota,  a 
noted  war-chief     Captain  Coytmore,  commandant  at  Fort 


1    '  Q 


able  hut,  and  the 


fr 


INDIANS  OF  THE  SOUTHERN  STATES. 


397 


George,  was  an  object  of  tlic  bitterest  hatred  on  the  part 
of  the  Indians,  and  a  large  body  of  them,  led  by  Occonos- 
tota,  besieged  the  fort  in  February  of  17G0, 

The  place  was  too  strong  to  be  taken  by  assault,  but  the 
Indian  chief  managed  to  entice  Coytinore  out  of  the  de- 
fences into  an  ambush,  where  he  was  shot  dead,  and  lieu- 
tenants Bell  and  Foster,  who  accompanied  him,  were 
wounded.  The  hostages  who  were  confined  within  the 
works,  shouted  to  encourage  their  friends  without,  and 
when  an  attempt  was  made  to  put  them  in  irons,  resisted 
manfully,  stabbing  one  soldier,  and  wounding  two  others. 
Upon  this,  a  hole  was  cut  in  the  roof  over  their  licads, 
and  the  cowardly  garrison  butchered  them  by  shooting 
down  from  above. 

This  war  now  commenced  in  earnest,  and  Indian  ravages 
extended  far  and  wide  upon  the  frontier.  Troops  were 
ordered  from  New  York  by  GcMicral  Amherst,  couunander- 
iu-chief  of  the  Britisli  forces  in  America;  and  the  neigh- 
boring colonies  appropriated  liberal  sums  for  the  })urpose 
of  buying  the  aid  of  the  Creeks,  Chickasaws,  and  Catawbas. 

Colonel  Montgomery  reached  Carolina  in  April,  (1760,) 
and  hi>stened,  in  command  of  the  regulars  and  provincials, 
to  make  an  cllective  inroad  upon  the  hostile  Indians.  His 
progress  through  the  lower  Cherokee  country  was  marked 
by  the  entire  destruction  of  the  Indian  towns.  The  first 
place  attacked,  called  Keowee,  was  surrounded,  and  the 
men  of  the  town  were  put  to  the  sword.  Estatoe,  con- 
taining two  hundred  liouses,  with  great  quantities  of  pro- 
visions, was  entirely  destroyed;  but  tlie  inhabitants  were 
saved  by  a  timely  flight.  "Every  other  settlement  east  of 
the  Blue  Ridge,"  says  McCall,  "afterwards  shared  the 
same  fate." 

The  army  made  some  stay  at  Fort  Prince  George,  and 
useless  endeavors  were  put  forth  to  bring  about  a  pacifica- 
tion with  the  upper  portion  of  the  Cherokecs.     In  the 


1-^1 


1-  yri^ii 


,> ' 


Mil 
1  fglM 

Iwl 

'  ^'ma 

.»    OfjT-Jffl 

hi 

'  &m 

ml 

mm 

'iriiKw 

^■t:  ■ 


398 


IXIHAX  KACES  OF  AMERICA. 


h,.  ■?■, 


'^VH;(', 


month  of  June  the  troops  were  again  on  their  advance 
into  the  ■w  ildoruess  of  the  interior.  Near  tlie  Indian  town 
of  Etehoe,  the  native  warriors  prepared  a  most  skillfid  am- 
buscade to  check  tlie  advancing  forces.  It  was  in  a  deeji 
valley,  through  which  ran  a  muddy  stream,  with  steep 
banks;  on  either  side  of  which  the  way  was  completelv 
choked  with  tangled  brushwood.  Some  hard  fiiihtiuir 
took  place  at  this  spot,  in  which  twenty  of  the  whites 
were  killed  and  seventy-six  wounded.  The  loss  on  the 
side  of  the  Indians  was  nmch  less,  and,  although  drivxni 
from  the  spot  where  the  lirst  stand,  was  made,  they  in- 
trenched theniselv(,'S  a  little  farther  on.  Under  those  cir- 
cumsttinces,  Montgomery  determined,  to  secure  the  safety 
of  his  troops,  and  to  provide  for  the  re(|uisite  attention  to 
his  wounded  men,  by  a  retreat.  He  soon  after  .^ailed  fir 
New  York,  leaving  four  companies  of  regulars,  under 
Major  Hamilton,  for  the  protection  of  the  frontier. 

The  garrison  at  the  isolaled  Kort  JiOUihni  was  now  in  a 
state  of  imminent  peril.  The  provisions  of  the  place  were 
nearly  exhausted,  and  the  I'cdoubtable  Occonostota  was 
laying  close  siege  to  it  with  his  lierce  and  enraged  warriois. 
After  sullering  great  extremes  of  privation,  and  experi- 
encing disappointment  in  all  their  hopes  of  relief,  llu;  two 
hundred,  men  stationed  at  this  place  were  obliged  to  ca- 
pitulate, and  trust  to  the  h(.)nor  of  tliinr  savage  enemy. 
Captain  Steuart,  an  (^Ilieer  greatly  in  favor  with  all  the 
friendly  Indians,  arranged  the  terms  u])on  which  the  fort 
should  be  evacuated.  The  troops  were  to  be  allowed  a 
free  and  unmolested  j)assag(;  to  Virginia,  or  Fort  I'lhiee 
George,  and  a  detachment  of  Indians  was  to  accomjiaiiy 
them  f(n'  tlie  purpose  of  supplying  provisions  bv  iuuitiiig. 

The  garrison  marched  out  on  the  7th  (.>!'  August  (ITiiO). 
Occonostota  himself,  with  a  numlx'r  ol'otht.-r  natives,  kept 
coin])any  with  the  whites,  dui'ing  the  lirst  day's  march  of 
lifteen  miles;  but  these  all  disa]ij)eared  when  tla^y  reached 


tlicir  advance 
ic  Indian  town 
ost  skilUnl  am- 
,  ^vas  in  a  deep 
un,  \YilU  Htcep 
vas  completely 
hard  lighting 
of  the  whites 
'he  loss  on  the 
Ithough  driven 
made,  they  in- 
Judcr  these  cir- 
3eure  the  safety 
site  attention  to 
after  sailed  for 
regidars,  under 
frontier. 

pn  was  now  in  a  ; 
the  place  were   1 
econostota  was 
raged  warrioi'.s.   ; 
m,  and  experi- 
relief,  the  two 
obliged  to  cu-   | 
savage  enemy. 
>r  with  all  tliu 
whieh  the  fort 
o  be  allowed  u 
(.r  Fort  rriuec 
to  aeeonipany 
,iis  by  hunting. 
August  (ITtiO). 
vr  uiitives,  kept 
day's  march  of 
on  they  reached 


INDIANS  OF  THE  SOUTIIEUN  STATES. 


399 


the  place  of  encampment,  near  an  Indian  town  called 
Taliquo.  On  the  next  morning,  just  before  day,  (the  time 
generally  selected  by  Indians  for  a  surprise,  as  men  sleep 
more  soundly  then  than  at  any  other  hour,)  a  large  body 
of  armed  savages,  in  war-paint,  were  seen  by  a  sentinel, 
creeping  through  the  bushes,  and  gathering  aljout  the 
camp.  Hardly  was  the  alarm  given  when  the  attack  was 
made:  twenty-six  of  the  feeble  and  half-starved  soldiers 
were  killed  outright,  and  the  rest  were  pinioned  and 
marched  back  to  the  fort. 

Cai)tain  Steuart  was  among  the  prisoners,  but  his  evil 
fortune  was  alleviated  by  tlic  staunch  friendship  of  the 
bcnevclcnt  Atakullakvdla.  This  chief,  as  soon  as  he  heard 
of  Steuart's  situation,  hastened  to  Fort  Loudon,  "and  pur- 
chased him  of  the  Indian  who  took  him,  giving  him  his 
rifle,  clothes,  and  all  that  he  could  command  by  way  of 
ransom :  he  then  took  possession  of  Ca])tain  Demcre's  house, 
where  he  kept  his  prisoner  as  one  of  his  family,  and  hu- 
manely shared  with  him  the  little  jirovisions  his  table 
alforded,  until  an  opportunity  should  offer  of  rescuing  him." 

A  quantity  of  anununition  was  discovered  b}''  the  In- 
dians, buried  in  the  fort,  and  Oeconostota  determineel  to 
proceed  at  once  to  lay  siege  to  P'ort  I'rinco  George.  Captain 
Steuart  was  infoi-med  that  the  assistance  of  himself  and 
his  men  would  be  required  in  the  management  of  tlie  great 
guns,  and  that,  I'ui-thermore,  if  the  garrison  should  refuse 
to  capitulate,  all  the  prisoners  now  in  the  hands  of  the 
Indians  should,  one  by  one,  be  burned,  in  sight  of  the  fort. 
Perceiving  the  difhculty  of  his  situation,  the  captain  Itegged 
his  kind  old  proprietor  to  assist  him  in  effecting  an  eseai)e, 
and  Attaktdlakulla  readily  lent  his  aid.  V\nm  ])retence 
of  taking  his  prisoner  out  for  a  hunt,  he  left  h'ort  Loudon, 
with  his  wife  and  brother,  and  two  English  soldiers,  and 
took  a  direct  course  for  the  Virginia  frontier.  After  a 
mosL  toilsome  and  dangerous  nuireh,  they  fell  in  with  a 


Lr; 


■   ; ''  ''•,0-  '■'^'i 
'■i  ■;'--''1;r^l 

■    .'■■'"        'i,  >      'i 


iH 


y<  ■.!..^> 


,   ■■'■■■  ""i" 


r' 


•    (. 


ml 


'.. 


t  ' 


i" 


400 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


party  of  tliree  hundred  men,  sent  out  for  the  relief  of  such 
of  the  garrison  at  Fort  Loudon  as  might  have  effected  their 
escape.  Being  now  in  safe+y,  Captain  Steuart  dismissed 
his  Indian  friends  with  handsome  rewards,  to  return  and 
attend  to  the  welfare  of  his  former  fellow-jjrisoners.  Such 
of  them  as  had  survived  were  afterwards  ransomed  and 
delivered  up  at  Fort  Prince  George. 

This  ])ost  was  imnnKliately  supplied  with  provisions  in 
anticipation  of  the  siege ;  and  care  was  taken,  through  the 
mediation  of  Attakidlakulla,  to  imjiress  the  Cherokees  with 
the  idea  that  it  was  totally  imju'egnable. 

Matters  appeared  now  to  be,  in  some  manner,  at  rest; 
but  the  majority  of  the  Cherokee  nation  remained  thor- 
oughly inimical,  and  emissaries  from  tlie  French  colonies 
were  busy  in  their  midst.  A  French  oflicer,  of  the  name 
of  Latinae,  was  esj)eeially  successfirt  in  rousing  up  their 
hostile  feelings.  As  an  instance  of  his  style  of  proceeding, 
it  is  related  that,  at  a  great  conclave  of  the  trilu\  he  step- 
]K>d  out,  and  drove  his  hatchet  into  a  log,  calling  out: 
'"Who  is  the  man  that  will  take  this  up  for  'the  king  of 
France?'  Saloue,  a  young  warrior  of  Kstatoe,  laid  hold  of 
it,  and  cried  out,  'I  am  for  war!  the  spirits  of  our  brothers 
who  have  been  slain  still  call  upon  us  to  revenge  their 
death — he  is  no  better  than  a  woman  who  refuses  to  fol- 
low me.' " 

In  the  following  sjiring,  Colonel  James  Grant,  who  had 
succeeded  to  the  connnuud  of  the  Highlander;-;  enijiloyod 
ji  liritish  service  in  America,  commenced  active  ojx-ratioiis 
against  the  belligerent  nation.  AVhat  with  the  aid  of  the 
provincials  and  fri  'ndly  Indians,  he  was  at  the  head  of 
about  twenty-six  hundred  men.  The  Chickasaws  and 
Catawbas  lent  some  assistance  to  the  Fnglish;  but  the 
Creeks  are  said  to  have  alternately  inclined  to  the  French 
or  Fnglish,  according  as  they  received  or  hoped  for  favors 
and  presents. 


!i 


INDIANS  OF  THE  SOUTHERN  STATES. 


40X 


The  army  readied  Fort  Prince  George  on  the  27th  of 
May,  (1701,)  and  there  old  Attakullakulla  made  his  ap- 
pearance, deprecating  tlie  proposed  vengeance  of  the  wliites 
upon  his  people,  lie  was  told  that  the  English  still  felt 
the  strongest  regard  for  him  individually,  but  that  the  ill- 
will  nnd  misconduct  of  the  majority  of  the  nation  were  too 
jiiilpahle  and  gross  to  be  suirei\;d  to  go  longer  unpunished. 
Colonel  Grant  marched  from  the  fort  in  the  month  of  J  une, 
and  advanced  nearly  to  the  spot  where  ^lonigomery's 
progress  had  been  arrested,  before  coming  to  an  engage- 
ment. Here  the  Cherokees,  on  the  10th,  made  a  despei-atc 
but  unavailing  stand ;  they  were  routed  and  dispersed,  leav- 
ing their  t'  wns  and  villagesof  the  interior  to  be  destroyed 
by  the  iiivi-ders.  Etchoe  was  burned  on  the  day  following 
the  battle ;  and,  according  to  ^IcCall,  "  all  the  other  towns 
in  the  middle  settlement,  fointeen  in  number,  shared  tlic 
.«ame  fate :  the  corn,  cattle,  and  other  stores  of  tlie  enemy, 
vrerc  likewise  destroyed,  and  those  miserable  savages,  with 
their  families,  were  driven  to  seek  shelter  and  subsistence 
aiuoniz;  the  barren  mountains." 

Upon  the  return  of  tlie  army  to  Fort  Prince  George, 
after  this  campaign,  Attakullakulla  again  visited  the  cam{), 
brint'iiiff  witli  him  a  luuuber  of  other  Cherokee  chieis. 
Broken  down  by  their  disastrous  losses,  and  disgusttnl  with 
the  deceitful  j)i'omises  of  the  Fi'cneh,  they  gladly  acceded 
to  such  terms  as  Colonel  Gram  thought  lit  to  impose,  and 
a  treaty  of  peace  was  fornuilly  concluded. 
26 


^ 


imi 


■   -':;-:$? 

■  :.  ::   'i    * 
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■;■»'* 


•:-;fe'v:.:' 


-, 


402  INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


CHAPTER  III. 

CAPTAIN    STEUART's     AGENCY DISTURBANCE    IN    1707 — VISIT   OF 

TECUMSEH  TO  THE    SOUTHERN    TRIBES — WEATHERFORD — SACK 

OF    FORT    MIMHS — WAR    OF    1818 — (GENERAL  JACKSOn's 

CAMPAIGN — BATTLES  ON  THE  TAELUSAHATCHEE  ;    AT 

TALLADEGA,  AUTOSSEE,  ETC. — THE  ilALIIBEES — 

DEFEAT    OF   THE  INDIANS  AT    KORSE-SHOE 

BEND — END    OF    THE    v^AR. 

In  tlie  year  1762,  it  was  tliouglit  advisable  by  tlic  Eng- 
lish government  to  appoint  a  general  agent  and  sui)eriu- 
tendent  of  Indian  affairs  at  the  south.     Partly  through  the  ' 
earnest  intervention  of  Attakullakulla,  but  espcciiilly  be-  ; 
cause  of  liis  known  sag;.>.ity  and  influence  over  the  native  ' 
tribes,  this  oflice  was  conferred  upon  Captain  John  Steu- 
art.     Upon  entering  on  the  duties  of  his  appointment,  he 
called  a  great  council  of  deputies,  from  all  the  southern 
tribes,  at  Mobile.     Addressing  the  assembled  chiefs  ia 
their  own  style  of  oratory,  he  explained  to  them  the  rela- 
tions then  existing  between  France  and  England,  impress- 
ing upon   them  the   idea  that   all   residing  east  of  the  jj 
Mississi])pi,  must  nrv'"  look  to  the  English  for  supplies  and 
protection.      lie   directed   his   harangue   to   the  several 
uatious  in  sc})arate  succession,  promising  entire  anmcsty 
to  all  who  had  taken  up  the  hatchet  in  behalf  of  the 
French ;  commending  those  who  had  remained  faithful  to 
the  EngH.sh;  and  excusing  those  who  had  sided  with  the 
eneni}',  as  the  victims  of  deception. 

It  was  proposed  to  adopt,  at  this  time,  a  more  just  and 
equable  policy  towards  the  Indians  than  had  heretofore 
been  used,  and  to  take  the  necessary  steps  to  secure  them  ,; 
against  the  deception  of  un  j)rineipled  speculators.  Affairs, 
accordingly,  looked  peaceful  and  prosperous  for  some 
years.     The  natives  made  over  a  large  additional  tract  of 


a  more  just  and 
1  luid  heretofore 
)S  to  secure  tbciu 
ulators.  Afftiirs, 
)erous  for  some 
Aditional  tract  of 


INDIANS  OF  TUE  SOUTHERN  STATES. 


403 


land  to  the  growing  colony  of  Georgia,  to  be  sold,  and  the 
avails  applied  to  the  discharge  of  the  heavy  debts  they 
had  incurred  for  supplies  of  anunuuition,  clothing,  &c. 
The  following  circumstance  sufficiently  evinces  the  policy 
of  mild  measures  towards  the  Indians:  In  1767,  the  whites 
having  made  encroachments  upon  the  Indian  lands,  some 
of  the  Creek  warriors  began  to  retaliate  by  stealing  horses 
which  they  found  upon  their  own  territory.  A  party  of 
them  also  attacked  a  store  at  Trader's  llill,  on  the  St. 
Mary's,  belonging  to  one  Lemmons,  and  after  plundering 
it  of  its  contents,  burned  the  buildings.  Some  of  tlic 
whites  pursued  these  marauders;  recovered  the  stolen 
horses;  laid  hands  upon  what  valuable  goods  they  could 
discover,  and  destroyed  the  villages  of  the  offenders.  Far 
less  important  allairs  have  often  led  to  long  and  bloody 
wars  with  the  natives;  but,  in  this  instance,  Governor 
Wright,  at  Savannah,  restored  perfect  quiet  by  decreeing 
mutual  restorations  and  compensation. 

No  events  of  very  striking  interest  connected  with  the 
Indians  of  tlie  Southern  States,  call  for  our  attention  from 
tliis  period  to  that  of  the  wars  wdth  the  western  tribes  in 
the  early  part  of  the  present  century.  Until  they  became, 
to  a  certain  extent,  involved  in  those  hostilities,  they  re- 
mained in  comparative  peace  with  the  American  whites. 
After  the  termination  of  the  revolutionary  war,  and  the 
establishment  of  the  independence  of  the  United  States, 
the  intrigues  of  opposing  parties  no  longer  operated  to 
foment  disturbance,  or  to  tempt  the  unfortunate  savages 
to  engage  in  quarrels  where  they  had  nothing  to  gain,  and 
which  ever  resulted  in  their  final  discomfiture. 

By  a  steady  increase  of  numbers,  and  the  adventurous 
spirit  of  pioneers,  the  white  settlers  every  where  made 
advances  upon  the  Indian  territory.  Sometimes  large  ac- 
quisitions would  be  made  by  a  government  purchase ;  but, 
to  no  small  extent,  the  opinion  that  the  occupation  of  a 


r 


[if  i#:'i 

'K'  -'  ■  ,''■  •', ■: 
1?,'    .f*'i    '!.^f;l 


'■'      '.'■  i| 


-''m^ 


mm'::: 


•  [ 


M 


r 


404 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


few  roving  savages  could  give  no  natural  title  to  lands,  as 
v)j)j)ose(l  to  the  claims  of  those  who  had  njchiinied,  inclosed, 
and  iiriproved  the  wilderness,  satislied  the  consciences  of 
the  encroachers.  The  argument  in  fivor  ol'  this  conelu- 
^''on  is  by  no  means  without  force;  hut  who  can  tala'  ujnm 
'..,-  isclf  to  draw  the  line  of  demarkaliou  which  shall  decide, 
u])on  any  ])rinci])le  of  universal  application,  the  bounds 
of  so  artificial  a  right  as  the  ownership  of  land? 

In  the  autumn  of  1811,  the  great  Shawanee  chief  Te- 
cumsch,  in  ])ui'suance  of  his  bold  and  extensive  plans  11  )r 
a  universal  association  of  the  Indians  against  the  whites, 
made  a  tour  among  the  southern  tribes.  His  cloipienl 
apj)eals,  and  the  overpowering  energy  which  distinguished 
this  truly  great  man,  proved  successful  in  the  winning 
over  to  his  views  of  no  small  number  of  the  Indian  war- 
riors, even  among  those  who  had  long  maintained  a 
friendly  intercounse  with  the  Americans  and  the  govei'ii- 
ment  of  the  United  States. 

At  tlic  time  of  the  declaration  of  war  with  Knglaiid, 
(June  18th,  lbl2,)  the  whole  western  border  of  the  rniied 
States  was  in  a  j)osition  of  the  greatest  danger  and  inse- 
curity. The  machinations  of  Tecumseli  and  tho- Prophet 
had  roused  an  extensive  flame  of  vindictive  iei-ocity 
throughout  the  Indian  nations,  while  liritish  agents,  it  is 
said,  were  widely  disjiersed,  and,  by  munificent  jn'omises 
and  artful  persuasions,  had  still  farther  widened  the  breach 
between  the  savages  and  their  white  countrymen.  Fright- 
ful scenes  of  depredation  and  murder  called  for  a  ju'onipt 
and  decisive  check.  Many  minor  forays  arc  recoixled,  but 
the  destruction  of  Fort  Minims  in  the  Tensau  settletiient 
of  Mississippi,  in  the  summer  of  the  year  following,  may 
be  considered  the  first  important  part  taken  by  the  south- 
ern tribes  in  the  wars  of  this  period.  Wc  shall  not  under- 
take, in  our  brief  account  of  the  Indian  campaign  of  181;], 
to  keep  up  a  distinction  between  the  dittercut  tribes  of 


';■'?■•■■'•/•■ 

•  .  :     t  ■ 


Ic  to  lauds,  ;i8 
meJ,  inclosed,  j  | 
I'onsciciK'es  of  :' 
il'  this  coiiclu- 
cau  take  ujxni 
;li  shall  decide, 
11,  the  bouiuls 
and? 

uiee  chief  Te- 
nsivo  })laiis  for 
list  the  whites. 

His  ehiiiueiil 
li  distinguished 
11  the  winning 
he  Indian  wur- 

maiutaiued  a 
id  the  govern- 

with  Knglaud, 
of  the  United 
iger  and  iiise- 
I  tho- Proitliet 
etivc    fen icity 

sh  agents,  it  is 

ficeut  promises 
icd  the  breach 
nuMi.    Friglit- 

d  for  a  iironijit 
;  recorded,  hut 

usau  settlement 
1  lowing,  may 
1  by  the  south- 
hall  not  under- 

npaign  of  181o, 

lercut  tribes  of 


INDIANS  OF  THE  SOUTHEKN  STATES. 


405 


Crocks,  Chickasaws,  Choctaws,  Chcrokccs,  &c.,  who  were 
drawn  into  hostilities. 

Protniaeiit  among  the  chiefs  ailil  leaders  of  the  southern 
confederacy,  was  the  celebrated  Wcatherford.  His  mother 
was  said  to  have  been  a  Seminole,  but  he  was  born  among 
the  Creeks.  He  Wits,  beyond  question,  possessed  of  lany 
noble  and  commanding  qualities,  but  these  were  co.  bii..  1 
with  cruelty,  avarice,  and  degrading  vices.  A  •  art\ 
about  one  thousand  warriors,  led  by  this  pojv,  !u,  "aiief, 
fell  upon  the  devoted  Fort  Miinrns,  on  the  '  u,  c  Au- 
frust,  1813.  The  post  was  garrisoned  by  one  h.ind:  d  a, id 
sixty  eflicient  soldiers;  the  rest  of  its  oecu]  '?-,  '■■)  the 
number  of  one  hundred  and  iifteen,  consisted  (,.  oid  men, 
women  and  chihlrcn.  Tlie  forces  were  under  the  c(Hn- 
iiiaiul  of  Major  Beasly.  No  regular  preparations  had  been 
made  for  the  reccjition  of  so  powerful  an  enemy,  and  al- 
though the  soldiers  did  their  duty  rnanfiiUy,  they  were 
overpowered,  and  all  slain  except  seventeen.  The  women 
and  children  having  enseonced  themselves  in  several  block 
houses,  met  Avith  a  more  terrible  fate.  The  savages  set 
fire  to  the  buildings,  and  consumed  them,  together  with 
their  inmates. 

The  settlers  inhabiting  exposed  districts  were  now 
obliged  to  lly  for  safety  to  places  of  protection,  and  the 
hostile  hordes  of  Indians  were  collecting  their  warriors  for 
further  inroads  upon  the  frontier.  '^^I'o  resist  them,  a  large 
force  was  called  into  requisition  in  Tennessee,  and  the 
command  bestowed  upon  General  Andrew  Jackson.  Col- 
onel Coffee,  at  the  head  of  a  considerable  body  of  troops, 
and  such  volunteers  as  could  be  immediatcdy  collected, 
hastened  forward  to  defend  the  country  in  the  vicinity  of 
lluntsville.  General  Jackson,  although  disabled  at  this 
time,  by  a  broken  arm,  determined  to  take  the  field  in  per- 
son, and  pushed  on  the  necessary  preparations  with  all  that 
zeal  and  energy  which  marked  his  character  through  life; 


♦ '  '  * '  ij^  'iff*' 


»   f 


^m 


m 


406 


INDIAX  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


News  was  broiiglit  by  some  runners  from  tlic  ostablisli- 
mcnt  of  tlic  friendly  old  Creek  eliicf  Cliinnaby,  that  the 
enemy  was  aj)proaeliing  lluntsville,  or  Fort  Hampton,  in 
full  force.  The  report  was  erroneous,  but,  as  other  nunors 
seemed,  at  the  time,  to  confirm  it,  the  general  hurried  his 
army  on  to  relieve  the  jKwt.  This  was  on  the  10th  of  Oc- 
tober (1813).  From  lluntsville,  Jaekson,  with  his  forees, 
crossed  the  Tennessee,  and  jt)ined  Colonel  Collee,  who  was 
posted  upon  a  high  bluff  on  the  south  bank  of  the  river. 

From  this  place,  Colonel  Coflec  was  dispatched,  with 
seven  hundred  men,  to  beat  up  the  enemies'  quarters  on 
tlie  Black  Warrior  river,  while  the  commander  of  tin- 
army  turned  all  his  attention  to  securing  some  supplies  ol' 
provision  for  his  Ihmishing  troops.  Encamped  in  tlir 
enemies'  country,  whither  they  had  arrived  by  fonjcd 
marches,  the  trooj)s  were  necessarily  exposed  to  great  hard- 
ship and  want.  While  awaiting  sui)[)lies  at  this  encamp- 
ment, General  Jackson  had  an  interview  with  Shclocia,  a 
son  of  Cliinnaby,  wIkj  had  come  to  request  assistance  lor 
his  father  and  friends,  blockaded  in  their  fort  by  the  hos- 
tile Creeks,  lie  said  that  a  considerable  force  of  tlu; 
enemy  was  now  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Ten  Islands,  oii 
the  Coosa. 

The  news  was  confirmed  by  other  messengers,  and  llic 
commander  proceeded  towards  the  Coosa,  to  jjrotect  liis 
Indian  allies,  notwithstanding  the  straits  to  which  his  iiirii 
were  reduced  from  want  of  provisions.  The  troo})s  ri'achcil 
the  Islands  without  encountering  an  enemy.  On  the  route, 
Colonel  Dyer  was  detached,  with  two  hundred  mounted 
men  to  fall  upon  Littafutchee,  at  the  head  of  Canoe  Creek,  a 
western  tributary  of  the  Coosa.  He  accomplished  the  ser- 
vice, destroyed  the  town,  and  brought  back  to  the  camp 
twenty-nine  prisoners. 

While  encamped  at  the  Ten  Islands,  the  general  ascer- 
tained the  real  rendezvous  of  the  enemy  to  be  uj)ou  the 


Z'.ZTJ 


INDIANS  01'  THE  SOUTHERN  STATES. 


407 


Tallussaliatchec  Creek,  omptying  into  tlie  Coosa  aliont  tliir- 
tccii  miloH  below  the  ein;;impmeiit.  Colonel  Coll'ee,  with 
nine  hundred  men,  was  promptly  ordered  upon  the  duty 
of  engaging  them.  lie  forded  the  Coosa  at  tlio  l*'ish- 
Uams,  and,  ajjproaehing  the;  Indian  eamp,  so  disposed  liis 
forces  as  to  partially  surround  it,  while  several  companies, 
under  Captain  lIamm(Mid  and  Lieutenant  I'atterson.  were 
marched  in  to  beat  up  the  enemies'  (piarters.  The  savages 
fought  boldly  and  desperately,  but  were  overpowered  and 
driven  into  their  buildings,  where  one  hundred  and  eighty- 
six  of  their  number  perished,  fighting  hand  to  hand, 
Kighty-four  women  and  children  were  taken  ]>risoncrs, 
and  a  number  were  killed,  as  is  said,  by  aeciik'nt,  <luring 
tl>c  melee.  This  battle  was  fought  on  the  od  of  Novem- 
ber (1813). 

A  species  of  fortification  was  now  ])re])ared  at  the  islands, 
and  named  Fort  Strother.  On  the  7th  of  the  month,  in- 
formation was  received  that  the  enemy  was  collci'ting  in 
force  to  attack  Talladega, — a  post  about  thirty  miles  be- 
low, occupied  by  friendly  Indians, — and  General  Jackson, 
with  nearly  his  whole  army,  consisting  of  twelve  hundred 
inflmtry  and  eight  hundred  mounted  men,  hastened  to  its 
relief.  The  baj^gage,  the  sick,  and  the  wounded,  were  left, 
under  a  guard  of  protection,  at  h\jrt  Strother. 

The  river  was  (<)i\lod  by  tlie  mounted  men,  each  carry- 
ing one  of  the  infantry  behind  him,  a  process  which  was 
continued  till  the  whole  army  was  safely  landed  on  the 
opposite  shore.  It  was  about  midnight  when  the  march 
commenced,  and  on  the  evening  of  the  ensuing  day,  as}ii)t 
only  six  miles  from  Talladega  was  reached.  By  four 
o'clock,  on  the  following  morning,  the  troops  were  again 
in  motion ;  and,  acting  iipon  intelligence  obtained  by  le- 
connoitcring  during  the  night.  General  Jack.son  was  ena- 
bled so  to  dispose  his  troops  as  partially  to  surround  the 
camp  before  the  action  conmicnccd.     It  is  unnecessary  to 


:■    wn-c- 


i- 


■  i^ 


.1 ; '  ly-M 


408 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMKHICA. 


give  tlio  (lotuils  of  tliis  biittlo.  Tlic  Iiidiiuis  (lispliiycd  both 
coiirtif^a'  niul  rifimics>",  and  by  the  iiiipi.'tiiosity  of  thoir 
attiu'k,  l)rokc  throii^ji  the  Wnv.  of  thi^  iidvaiii'iiig  forces  ut 
n  point  o(.'(Mij)*u'd  by  (iiMicral  Roborts'  brigach*.  They  were 
dilv^Mi  ill  again  by  a  body  of  rt\S(!rv(Hl  troops,  but,  sue- 
cocdod  in  making  their  cscapo  to  the  mountains,  tlii'M- 
milos  distant,  through  an  opening  left  by  some  misealcii- 
hition  in  tiie  (Hrection  of  th(i  AnuM'ieans'  advan(!e.  ''hi 
this  battle,"  aeeonUng  to  ('obbett,  "the  force  of  the  ciieinv 
was  one  thousand  and  ciglity,  of  whom  two  hiiiidrci]  and 
ninety-nine  were  k;ft  dead  on  the  ground;  and  it  is  be- 
lieved that  many  were  kiHed  in  the  ilight,  wiio  were  not 
Ibund  vvdien  the  estimate  was  made.  Their  loss,  on  this 
occasion,  as  stated  since  by  themselves,  was  not  less  than 
pix  hundred:  tlnitofthe  Aniei'icans  was  fifteen  killed  anil 
eighty  woumled,  sevei'al  of  whom  afterwards  died." 

The  friendly  Indians,  who  had  been  besieged  in  their 
fort  at  this  plac(>,  deprived  in'en  of  water,  expressed  thr 
liveliest  gi'atitudo  and  exultation  at  their  release.  Tlir 
fatigue,  exposure,  and  want  which  the  army  were  eoni- 
pcUed  to  undergo,  now  began  to  arouse  a  spirit  of  di  eon- 
tent  and  mutiny.  Few  men  have  ever  posses.sed  that  sell- 
devotion  and  noble  spirit  of  endurance,  combined  wit'i 
an  inflexibility  of  purj)ose  never  surpassed,  which  enable^! 
Jackson  to  quell  the  disturbances  wliieh  arose,  anil  \o 
preserve  the  ibrccs  under  his  charge  in  a  conditi(jn  lor 
active  and  useful  service. 

After  the  battle  at  '^I'alladcga,  the  TTallibec  Indians,  wlin 
were  largel_y  concerned  in  that  transaction,  sucmI  for  peace. 
They  were  told  by  the  Ameri(.'an  general  that  this  shoiiM 
be  accorded,  upon  condition  of  the  restoration  of  plundereil 
property,  and  the  delivering  uj)  of  those  who  had  taken 
part  in  the  massacre  at  Fort  Minmis.  Unfortunately, 
while  these  negotiations  were  pending.  General  White, 
acting  under  orders  independent  of  General  Jacks(jn,  at- 


V;.;*  :''': 


(lispliiyccl  l)()t1i 
losity  of  tlicir 
lu'iii}^  loives  iit   I 
K'.     Tlioy  wore   } 
roops,  but,  sue- 
(Hiiituiiis,  till'"!' 
some  misealcu- 
lulvancc.     "In 
M>  ol'  the  ciKMuy 
^•(1  limnli't'il  ami 
1;  au'l   it  is  lir- 
;,,  wlu)  wort'  IK  it 
cnr  loss,  oil  this 
'as  not  less  tliaii 
ilU'cn  killed  ami 
nls  .lied." 
esie^'cd  in  tlioir 
r,  expressed  the 
ir  release.     Tin' 
nuy  were  coin- 
spirit  ol'  di.  eon- 
issessed  that  sell- 
c()iid)ined  wit'i 
,  wliieli  eiial)K'il 
1   arose,  aiul  to 
a  couditiou  ibr 


«.■,,. I 


jee  Inilians,  wlin 
,  sued  for  i)eac('. 

Lliat  this  sliouM 
ion  of  i)luu(K'ivil 

who  had  taken 
Unfortunately, 

General  White, 
oral  Jackson,  at- 


-J; 


.-I-  (■: 


)  /,.'.>, 


;^._>-^*" 


(;r.N.  J  ACKSOX. 


INDIANS  OF  THE  SOUTHERN  STATES. 


409 


tackcci  the  towns  of  tlicsc  Indians,  destroyecl  many  of 
their  warriors,  and  carried  oft'  several  hundred  captives. 
Supposing  that  this  was  by  Jackson's  orders,  they  expected 
no  further  favor,  and  fouglit  thereafter  witli  the  despera- 
tion of  men  to  wliom  no  rpiarter  was  to  be  given. 

The  result  of  this  Indian  campaign  was  the  entire  re- 
duction of  the  hostile  nations.  We  need  not  recount  the 
various  battles  in  which  they  were  defeated  and  destroyed. 
The  most  noted  of  these  were  at  Autossee,  where  some 
two  hundred  were  massacred,  on  the  29th  of  Xovember, 
and  that  of  the  great  bend  in  the  Tallapoosie,  known  as 
Ilorse-Slioe  Bend.  At  this  latter  point,  t..  .  Indians  forti- 
fied themselves  for  a  last  and  desperate  stand. 

They  were  supposed  to  be  about  one  thousand  in  num- 
ber, and  had  been,  for  some  time,  strengthen iiiu-  tlieir 
position  by  every  means  within  their  reach.  This  was  in 
the  montii  of  M;uvh,  181-1.  On  the  27th,  General  .h^.-kson, 
with  a  (brcc  of  wliites  and  fiiendly  Indians,  three  times 
tlie  number  of  the  enemy,  connaenced  operations  against 
the  fort.  (kMU'ral  Coffee,  with  most  of  the  cavalry  and 
Indian  allies,  was  directed  to  surround  tlie  bend,  in  order 
to  cut  off  all  retreat  across  the  river.  The  place  was  then 
carried  by  storm,  under  a  lu^^v}'  fire  from  within.  More 
than  half  tlie  Indians  were  killed  at  the  fort,  and  an  un- 
known number  perished  in  llieir  endeavors  to  escape  by 
crossing  the  river,  beset  as  it  was  by  the  assailants.  Some 
have  asserted  that  probably  not  more  than  twenty  ever 
reached  a  place  of  safety.  At  a  time  when  it  was  evident 
that  the  fortune  of  the  day  was  decided.  General  Jackson 
scut  a  messenger,  with  a  flag  of  truce,  to  invite  a  surrender; 
but,  from  ignorance  or  desperation,  the  savages  tii'ed  upon 
the  bearer  of  the  flag.  After  tins,  no  mercy  was  shown: 
until  night  put  an  end  to  the  work  of  destruction,  they 
were  shot  or  cut  down  wherever  they  could  be  f)und,  and 
even  on  the  following  morning,  a  considerable  number  were 


i'l:         1   ■  ■"■Vi*-'»Ki'S' 


'      ■''■■'''■  ^.l 
■;*.  ■,  ■• 


'''M 


W 


li^^/Mi 


410 


INDIAN   RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


ferreted  out  from  tlie  "  caves  and  reeds,"  wliere  tliey  had 
sought  concealment,  and  remorselessly  put  to  death.  Sev- 
eral hundred  women  and  children  were  made  captives. 
The  loss  of  the  attacking  army,  in  this  battle,  was  fifty-fivc 
killed,  and  one  hundred  and  forty-six  wounded. 

In  the  ensuing  month,  (April,)  General  Jackson  having 
effected  a  junction  with  the  troops  from  Georgia,  under 
Colonel  Milton,  received  a  deputation  from  the  principal 
hostile  tribes,  expressing  a  wish  for  peace.  The  general 
demanded,  as  one  condition  upon  which  he  would  treat, 
and  as  a  test  of  the  sincerity  of  the  proposal,  that  the  great 
but  notorious  Weatherford  siiould  be  delivered  up  for 
punishment.  This  chief,  hearing  of  the  recpiisition,  and 
hopeless  of  fui-ther  success  in  resistance,  came  voluntarily 
to  the  American  camp,  and  presenting  himself  befnre  tlic 
commander,  with  characteristic  dignity  and  conijiosuiv, 
requested  jcacc  for  his  people,  and  annou)iccd  his  own 
submissic"!  to  his  fate,  whatever  it  might  be. 

Uis  speech  on  this  occasion  is  given  as  follows:  "1  am 
in  your  power — do  with  me  as  you  ])lcase — I  am  a  soldier. 
I  have  done  the  whites  all  the  harm  I  could.  I  have 
fought  them,  and  fought  them  bravely.  If  I  had  an  aiiin , 
I  would  yet  fight — I  would  contend  to  the  last:  but  1 
have  none.  My  people  are  ail  gone.  I  can  only  weep 
over  the  misfortunes  of  my  nation." 

On  being  told  that  he  was  siill  at  liberty  to  depart,  and  that 
no  favor  would  be  shown  to  him  or  his  nation  unless  they 
should  submit  to  whatever  terms  the  wliites  should  sec  lit 
to  impose,  he  replied:  "Ion  can  safely  address  me  in 
such  terms  now.  There  was  a  time  when  I  could  have 
answered  ycni — there  was  a  time  when  I  had  a  choice— I 
have  none  now.  I  have  not  even  a  hope.  I  conld  once 
animate  my  warriors  to  battle;  but  '  ^.^.mot  animate  tliu 
dead.  My  warriors  can  no  longer  hear  my  voice.  'J'lu'ir 
bones  are  at  Talladega,  Tallusshatchee,  J'hnuckfaw,  and  To- 


rliere  they  had 

0  death.  Scv- 
macle  captives, 
e,  was  fifty -five 
ided. 

ackson  having 
Georgia,  under 

1  the  principal 
,  The  general 
he  would  treat, 
1,  that  the  great 
ilivered  u})  lor 
rc(iuitfltion,  and 
vnie  voluntarily 
iself  hell 're  the 
,nd  ctjuiposure, 
mnced  his  own 
pe. 

follows:  "1  am 

-I  am  a  soldier. 

ould.     I  have 

I  had  an  arui}, 

die  last:   but  I 

can  only  wee}) 

dejiart,  and  that 

ion  unless  they 

es  should  see  lit 

address  me  in 

n  1  could  have 

lad  a  choiee— I 

I  could  once 

lot  animate  tliu 

V  voice.     Tlieir 

uckfaw,  and  To- 


INDIANS  OF  THE  SOUTHEKN  STATES. 


411 


liopeka.  *  *  *  *  You  are  a  brave  man ;  I  rely  upon  your 
generosity.  You  will  exact  no  terms  of  a  conquered 
people  but  such  aa  they  should  accede  to." 

This  was  the  last  important  incident  of  the  campaign. 
The  Indians  submitted  to  the  dictation  of  the  whites,  and 
retired  to  the  districts  assigned  them,  eastward  of  the  Coosa. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE    REMOVAL    OF    THE    CHEROKEES    WEST    OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI 

PRESENT   rOCATION  AND  CONDITION  OK  THE  OTHER  TRIBES 
OF  THE  SOUTHERN  STATES. 

"Bearing  a  people  with  all  its  household  Gods  into  exile, 
Exile  without  an  end,  and  without  an  exanipic  in  story. — " 

IiONGFELLOW. 

But  a  few  years  have  passed  since  the  Cherokecs  were 
in  the  peaceful  occu])ation  of  an  immense  and  fertile  ter- 
ritory in  the  northern  part  of  Georgia.  They  numbered 
not  far  from  eighteen  thousand,  and  were  increasing  in  a 
ratio  which  attested  their  power  of  self-support  and  im- 
provement. They  had  made  advances  far  beyond  most 
of  their  red  brethren  in  the  arts  of  agriculture  and  manu- 
factures. A  system  of  legislation  adapted  to  their  capaci- 
ties and  wants  had  been  established,  and,  generally  speaking, 
tbe  nation  exhibited  a  praiseworthy  spectacle  of  sobr'  'ty, 
industry,  and  good  order.  They  were  in  po.-Jscssion  of 
about  eight  inillions  of  acres  of  land,  and  their  ability  and 
inclination  to  cultivate  it,  may  appear  from  the  statistics 
of  their  stock  and  agricultural  implements.  In  1826,  they 
were  the  owners  of  seven  thousand  six  hundred  horses, 
twcnty-t»vo  thousand  cattle,  forty-six  thousand  swine,  and 
two  thousand  five  hundred  sheep.     There  were  in  use 


L. 


■'"5  ^m^^'m:-, 


"•»'.■'. 


■:-m 


l  I  •Hi 


»*-vJ- 


'M 


412 


INDIAN  I  ACES  OF  AMERICA. 


among  them  two  thousand  nine  hundred  and  forty-three 
plouglis,  and  one  hundred  and  seventy -two  wagons.  Tliey 
occupied  their  territory  under  the  treaties  entci'ea  into, 
and  within  the  bounds  assigned  at  the  negotiations  between 
the  confederate  states  and  the  Indiaii  tribes  of  the  south, 
at  the  close  of  the  revolutionary  war 

In  the  year  1802,  when  the  long-vexed  question  of  tl.e 
boundaries  of  the  state  of  Georgia  was  finally  settled,  the 
United  States  stipulated  to  cxtii.ruish  the  title  of  the 
Cherolvoes  to  the  lands  then  in  thar  possession,  "as  early 
as  the  sji.iic  could  be  peaceabl}' obtai!U\l,  upon  reasonable 
terms." 

As  the  states  of  Georgia,  Alabuni.:,  and  Mississippi 
increased  in  power  a'id  populati^^i,  they  became  more  aiul 
more  liiiiiatient  of  die  cxisteiic'  of  selfgovei'niiig  and 
independent  tribes  within  tlvnr  ',  ndaries,  and  begun  to 
exert  a  control  over  then;  ui  sonv  ii stances  exceedingly 
■>i  njust  and  o})pressive.  iiLrong  efforts  were  made  to  induce 
a;;  v-nigr-ition  of  these  Indians  to  the  west,  which  were  in 
some  ;iit'afea/v  successful,  and,  prior  to  1829,  a  cession  (ir 
sale  I'f  ;i.  \>'y  large  district  had  been  obtained  from  the 
Cherokees.  The  members  of  this  trilx;,  '.iaturall}'  attacht.] 
to  the  beautiful  country  in  which  tliey  had  passed  their 
lives,  finally  determined  to  retain  possession  of  what  re- 
mained of  their  lands,  and  to  allow  of  no  further  siilcs 
to  whites. 

In  December,  of  the  above  year,  the  state  of  Georgia 
passed  a  series  of  acts  which  justly  aroused  the  fears  and 
indignation  of  the  Indians,  and  excited  a  feeling  of  sym- 
pathy in  their  behalf,  as  powerful  as  extensive.  '^J'lie  laws 
of  the  state  were  declared  to  be  in  full  force  over  all  the  I 
Aborigines  within  its  limits;  the  regulations  and  provi-  | 
sions  of  the  Cherokee  council  were  declared  invalid  and 
void;  heavy  penalties  (amounting  to  years  of  imprison- 
ment at  hard  Ld)or)  v/ere  awarded  against  any  Cherokee 


and  forty-tlirec 
>  wagons.  They 
es  entered  into, 
)tiations  between 
3es  of  the  south, 

I  qncstion  ot  the   1 
nally  settled,  the   I 
the  title  of  the 
lession,  "as  early  j 
upon  reasonable 

and  Mississipiii 
oeeanic  more  aiul 
If-govoi'ning  atul 
ies,  and  l)(\<xaii  to 
iiees  exceedingly 
re  made  to  induce 
ist,  which  wen>  in 
820,  a  cession  or 
btaiued  from  the 
iaturally  attached 
had  passed  their 
ssion  of  what  re- 
'  no  further  sales 

state  of  Georgia 

sed  the  fears  and 

a  feeling  of  syni- 

jnsivc.     '^I'he  laws 

force  over  all  the 

ations  and  previ- 

a  red  invalid  and 

•ars  of  imprison- 

ist  any  Cherulcoc 


INDIANS  OF  TUE  SOUTHERN  STATES. 


413 


;   who  should  "endeavour"  to  oppose  emigration;  and  it 
:    was  even  enacted,  by  the  fifteeutli  section,  "that  no  lu- 
ll   dian,  or  descendant  of  an  Inthan,  within  the  Chei'okeo 
I    nation  of  Indians,  sludl  be  a  competent  witness  in  any 
court  of  Georgia,  in  a  suit  in  whieli  a  white  man  is  a  party, 
:    uidess  such  white  man  resides  within  said  nation." 

I  Notwithstanding  tlie  adverse  o})inions  of  many  of  the 
,   ablest  jurists  in  the  country,  as  to  the  constitutionality  or 

validity  of  these  and  other  provisions  of  the  Georgia  legis- 
lature, and  even  a  decision  against  them  in  the  Supreme 
!  Court  of  the  United  States,  they  were,  to  a  certain  extent, 
enforced.  The  situation  of  the  Indians  became,  in  conse- 
quence, so  precarious  and  uncomfortable,  that  a  consider- 
able party  was  formed  among  tliem  of  those  favoral)le  to 
migration.  At  the  head  of  this  faction  was  Major  Eidge, 
while  the  celebrated  John  Eoss  was  the  leader  of  those 
op})osed  to  the  movement — a  very  large  majority  of  the 
nation. 

Mtitters  continued  in  a  disturbed  and  unquiet  state, 
until  1835.  At  this  time  the  liev.  J.  T.  Sehermerhorn 
was  deputed  by  the  United  States  executive  to  bring  about 
'  a  treaty  whereby  the  Cherokees  should  remove  peace;  ^dy, 
receiving  a  reasonable  compensation  for  the  improv  its 
which  they  should  leave  behind  them. 

The  negotiation  ajipears  to  have  been  conducted  :i~  most 

II  Indian  treaties  have  been,  wlierever  a  specific  ob  i  was 
to  he  gained.  Notice  was  given  of  a  council  to  l>i'  held, 
and  a  collection  of  those  favorable  to  the  pro}  -t  1  emi- 
aration  ratified  a  treaty,  by  which  the  whole  irile  was 
hound  to  remove  within  two  years.  Notwithstanding  the 
ohvious  want  of  authority  on  the  part  of  those  indi\  iduals 
to  bind  the  nation,  and  a  remonstrance  signed  by  the  thou- 

was  ratiiied  bv  Congress. 


oj)poscd 


3aty, 


An  appropriation  was  made  for  the  indeinnifiea+i'>u  of 
those  who  should  suffer  loss  by  being  torn  froiu  their 


'  I  •  ••.,■"■ 


?j.  ■'■^'■'^ 


;J3 


,  V,'     ,'  'j. 


■■':'■''-:.'-»■ 


v  a: 


I^:';.v..f 


V.hm^''-mi. 


,^u-:'' 


r'^ll^i'V 


■:'H 


414 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


homes,  and  for  the  other  expenses  attending  the  iniquitous 
transaction,  and  nothing  was  left  to  the  unhappy  Clioro- 
kees  but  submission. 

No  resistance  was  made,  as,  indeed,  any  opposition 
would  have  been  utterly  fruitless.  The  Unitca  States' 
forces,  sent  to  overawe  the  Indians  and  enforce  compliance 
with  the  cruel  edict,  found  no  call  for  their  services.  With 
a  commendable  spirit  of  energy  and  perseverance,  the 
Cherokces,  with  their  brethren  of  the  neighboring  tribes 
of  the  south,  have  pursued  the  arts  and  refmemcnts  of 
civilization  in  their  new  homes  at  the  west.  Tliov  arc 
now  set  down  us  numbering  not  far  from  twenty-six  thou- 
sajid,  of  wlioui  by  far  the  larger  portion  is  located  west  of 
tlie  Mississippi.  A  considerable  settlement,  however,  is 
still  exi.'-^ing  in  North  Carolina. 

The  Creeks  or  Muscogees  have  been  continually  emi- 
grating westward  since  the  era  of  the  dillieiilties  between 
the  southern  states  and  the  Indians  within  their  limits,  in 
1828-9,  et  seij.  They  enjoy  a  tolerably  systematic  formuf 
government,  and  are  'n  many  respects  prosperous. 

Without  going  into  a  particular  description  of  the  con- 
dition of  the  other  emigrating  nations,  wc  will  conehulo 
this  subject  with  the  remarks  of  Mr.  Schoolcraft,  upon 
"The  problem  of  civilization,"  to  be  solved  in  the  future 
history  of  these  races.  "  Whatever  doubts  have  existed, 
heretofore,  in  regard  to  the  satisfactory  solution  of  this 
question,  they  must  now  give  way  before  the  cheerincr 
results  that  have  attended  t\\6  philanthrojiic  efforts  that 
have,  from  time  to  time,  been  made,  and  are  at  pn\«oiit 
going  on  among  the  Cherokees,  Choctaws,  Chickasiuvs, 
and  Creeks.  These  tribes  yielded  their  country  east  of 
the  Mississippi,  rendered  dear  to  them  by  the  associations 
of  youth,  Ihcir  tratlitiims,  and  the  graves  of  their  fathers. 
They  had  learned  the  great  truths  of  Christianity,  and  the 
arts  of  airriculture,  and  of  civilized  life;  yet  they  gave  up 


g  tlie  iniquitous 
Liuhappy  Clioro- 


ul  lire  at  pivsoiit 
,a\vs,  Clli^.'kas;l^v^;. 
•  country  cast  of 
y  the  associations 
s  of  their  fathers, 
■stianity,  and  the 
yet  they  gave  up 


INDIANS  or  THE  SOUTHERN  STATES. 


415 


all,  and  sought  a  new  home  in  the  ftir-off  wilderness,  and 
have  made  in  tliat  wilderness  fruitful  and  rich  farms,  and 
flourishing  villages.  Some  of  their  schools  are  of  a  high 
order.  The  gospel  ministry  is  well  attended.  Some  of 
their  constitutions  are  purely  re})ublicaii.  The  people  are 
increasing  in  numbers.  Peace  dwells  within  their  limits, 
and  {)lenteousncs3  within  their  borders;  civilization  upon 
Christian  principles;  agrieujture  and  the  mechanic  arts; 
and  schools.  With  these  priinar}^  and  fundamental  prin- 
ciples of  human  happiness,  civilizatiou  among  them  is  no 
longer  problematical." 


wm 

,|tl| 

'If  s' 

HJ 


-'■;;',;'  ti'!' 


41 


K,:.^V;r' 


■'^^^^^Wl 


:;  • 


r^ 


t 


\  *' 


Pm 


==■■1 


NORTHERN  RACES. 


CIIArfKll  I. 

THE   ESQXriMAUX:    THEIR    MANNERS  AND  PERSONAL  APl'KAKANCE — 

ACCOUNTS  OF  EARLY  VOYAGERS — ESQUIMAUX  HABITATIONS,  FOOD, 

ETC. THE  KAIAK  OR  CANOE SEAI.INO THE  REIN-IIKER 

USES  OF  Tin;  doc, — patriarchal  govkknment — 

EFFECTS  OF  FOREIGN    INTEIiCOURSE. 
"  Semper  liyenis;  semper  spiraiites  tVigorii  Ciuiri." 

VlRCilL. 

There  is  little,  besides  some  analogies  in  lungnnge,  to 
connect  the  nneuutli  race  wliii-li  forms  the  subject  of  tliis 
cliaj)ter  with  the  inhabitants  of  the  more  genial  climates 
of  North  America.  The  Esquimaux  are  spread  over  a 
vast  region  at  thu  north,  dwelling  principally  upon  tlio 
sea-coast,  and  upon  the  numberless  inlets  and  sounds  with 
which  the  country  is  intersected.  There  is  a  striking  sim- 
ilarity in  the  language,  habits  and  appearance  of  all  the 
tribes  of  the  extreme  north,  I'roni  Greenland  to  IJhciiiig's 
Straits. 

Charlevoix  gives  a  very  uninviting  description  of  their 
personal  aspect.  He  tells  us  that  there  are  none  of  the 
American  races  who  approach  so  nearly  to  the  idea  usu- 
ally entertained  in  Europe  of  "savages"  as  do  the  Esqui- 
maux. In  striking  contrast  to  the  thin  bei.rd  (for  the 
most  part  artificially  eradicated)  of  other  American  abo- 
rigines, these  ]ico])le   have  that  excrescence  ".v/  cjxiihe 


JU.--(J     ilK.i'    //'".'',     IJ^II  I'll     (I    J)lill'-     (I    I 


In-., 


in-rir  ^<ii/'  /ijiif-s  IrniU 


Xh  APl'KARANCE— 
LBITATIONS.FOOD, 

R  REIN-PEKU 

;KNMENT 

ra  Ciuiri." 

V'llUUL. 


in  Imignafro,  to 

e  sul)jcct  of  tliis 

o-cniiil  climates 

>  sjn-ciid  over  a 

cipally  upon  tlic 

and  sounds  witli 

is  a  strikin,t;j  sim- 

irance  of  all  the 

uid  to  llheriiigs 

scription  of  tlieir 
arc  none  of  tlie 
y  to  tlic  idea  nsw 
as  do  the  Ksqni- 
in  bc;'.rd  (for  the 
r  Arneriean  abo- 
|;c(Mice  ".v/  vp't's^'^ 
■  'uihliiiit's  irml-i 


NORTHERN  RACES. 


417 


de  leur  visage."  It  covers  tlicir  faces  nearly  to  the  eyes; 
go  that  one  can  scarcely  distinguish  eome  features  of  their 
countenance.  1'hey  have,  moreover,  he  says,  something 
hideous  in  their  general  aspect  and  demeanor — small,  wild- 
looking  eyes,  hu'ge  and  very  funl  teeth,  the  hair  generally 
black,  but  sometimes  fair,  and  always  in  extreme  disorder, 
and  their  whole  exterior  rough  and  brutish.  Their  man- 
ners and  character  do  not, falsify  tliis  niipre})osscssing 
physiognomy.  Tlicy  arc  savage,  rude,  suspicious,  unquiet, 
and  always  evil-disposed  towards  strangers.  lie  considei's 
their  fair  hair  and  skin,  with  the  slight  general  resemblance 
they  bear  towards,  and  the  limited  intercourse  they  eariy 
on  with,  the  neighboring  natives,  as  indisputable  evidence 
of  a  separate  origin. 

Prichard  says,  that  "the  description  given  by  Crantzof 
the  Greenlanders,  may  well  ai)j)ly  to  the  whole  I'ace.  They 
arc,  for  tlie  most  part,  under  five  feet  in  stature.  They  have 
well-sha})ed  and  i)roportioned  limbs.  Their  face  is  com- 
monly broad  and  flat,  with  high  cheek-bones,  but  round 
and  plump  cheeks;  their  eyes  are  little  and  black,  but  de- 
void of  sparkling  lire;  their  nose  is  not  flat,  but  small,  and 
projecting  but  little;  their  mouth  is  little  and  round,  and 
the  under  lip  somewhat  thicker  than  the  other.  They 
have  universally  coal-black,  straight,  strong  and  long  htiir 
on  their  heads,  but  no  beards,  because  they  root  it  out." — 
These  last  particulars  will  be  seen  to  be  variant  from  the 
description  given  above  by  Charlevoix,  of  the  race  in 
,ueneral.— Crant/.  proceeds:  "I'heir  hands  and  feet  are  little 
and  soft,  but  their  lu-ad  and  the  rest  of  their  limbs  arc 
large.  They  have  high  breasts  and  broad  shoulders;  their 
whole  body  is  fat." 

The  descriptions  handed  down  by  the  most  ancient 
voyagers  to  Greenland  of  the  Skradlings  or  natives  whom 
they  encountered,  corresponds  very  nearly  with,  the  gen- 
eral outline  above  given.  They  speak  of  them  as  a 
27 


-i.MV- 


mm''- 

HI 


?    ,  I     ■  ■:  i.' 


'  '.  I'  • 


■>i.''y'''. 


!«*      'Tt      (•■ 


if 


^'^^'.■V  V 


'  '-'i.  •  .4'.;  ''V. 


418 


INDIAN  RACES  OP  AMEKICA. 


(Iwiuilsli  people — seldoMi  more  tlian  four  feet  four  iiielios 
in  lieight;  suspicious  iiiul  hostile  towards  stnuigers;  sub- 
sisting upon  the  products  of  the  sea;  clothed  in  the  same 
style,  and  using  the  same  weapons,  boats  and  implements, 
as  those  still  inhabiting  the  country.  The  inhosj)itablo 
nature  of  their  climate,  their  slender  resources,  and  the 
deterioration  of  the  race  consequent  upon  such  a  mode  of 
life  as  theirs,  seem  to  preclude  the  probability  of  much 
imj)rovcmcnt  ever  taking  place  in  their  condition. 

The  Ksquimaux  received  little  better  treatment,  at  the 
hands  of  the  early  European  discoverers,  than  did  their 
brethren  farther  south.  It  is  strange  to  read  of  the  cool- 
ness with  whicli  those  adventurers  speak  of  the  enonnilioa 
committed  not  unfrequently  against  the  unoffending  and 
ignorant  natives.  Tlie  meeting  with  several  "wihl  men," 
and  the  killing  one  of  them  "to  nuvke  the  rest  tractable," 
is  rncutioucd  as  a  passing  and  ordinary  event. 

In  Frobisher's  expedition,  after  a  skirmish  in  which 
many  of  the  Indians  were  killed,  two  prisoners  were  taken. 
One  of  them,  an  old  woman,  was  so  disgustingly  hideous 
in  her  whole  appearance  that  suspicions  were  entertained 
lest  she  should  be  the  devil  himself;  and  the  captcM's  pro- 
ceeded to  pluck  off  her  buskins,  in  order  to  satisfy  them- 
selves as  to  whether  the  cloven  lioof  was  not  concealed  by 
them.  The  other  ca^jtive,  a  young  woman,  with  a  wounded 
cbild  in  her  arms,  was  retained,  but  the  old  hag  was  dis- 
missed as  being  too  revolting  an  object  to  be  endured, 
^Vhen  attempts  were  made  to  apply  remedies  to  the  wound 
of  the  child,  the  mother  "licked  off  with  Ler  tongue  the 
dressings  and  salves,  and  cured  it  in  ber  own  way." 

John  Davis  was  disj)osed  to  treat  them  more  kindly 
than  most  of  his  predecessors,  but  his  indignation  was 
finally  excited  by  their  "practising  their  devilish  nature," 
and  he  allowed  his  men  to  retaliate  upon  them  in  some 
measure. 


NOKTIIERN  RACES. 


419 


Notwitlistniuliiig  tlic  bad  cliaractcr  given  of  this  people, 
it  appears  tliat,  arter  tlieir  lirst  Hnspi(Uoiis  niv  alla\'eil,  tlicy 
prove  gentle  and  tractable  associates;  and  are  by  no  means 
wanting  in  nrbanity  and  kindliness.  How  readily  tiieir 
suspicions  are  allayed,  will  a])pear  from  the  account  of 
Captain  l^aek's  first  ineoting  with  a  small  i^arty  of  Esqui- 
maux. They  were  seen  at  a  short  distance,  gathering  in 
excited  groups,  or  running  about  at  their  wit's-end  with 
a.'^tonislunent  at  the  appeai'ancc  of  these  " Kabloond.-."  r,i^ 
Europeans,  being  the  first  they  had  ever  seen.  When  tlie 
English  began  to  advance  towards  them,  they  were  at  first 
ropclled  by  wild  outcries,  and  gesticulations,  and  Ity  hos- 
tile demonstrations  with  the  S})ears,  which  formed  the 
weapons  of  the  Indians.  The  uncouth  group  stood  in  a 
somi-cirele,  "yelling  out  some  unintelligible  word,"  as  the 
cai)tain  boldly  and  composedly  walked  up  to  them,  and 
made  signs  of  peace,  throwing  up  his  hands,  as  he  observed 
tlicm  to  do,  and  calling  out  "Tlma" — (peace).  "In  an 
instant  their  spears  were  flung  to  the  ground;  and,  putting 
their  hands  on  their  breasts,  they  also  called  out  Tima, 
with  much  more,  doubtless  greatly  to  the  piu'posc." 

Any  attempt  to  give  a  connected  history  of  the  Esqui- 
maux, from  the  time  of  their  first  intercourse  with  Eu- 
ropeans would  necessarily  resolve  itself  into  a  narrative 
of  the  various  polar  ex])editions.  The  progress  of  the 
Christian  missions  upon  the  coast,  could  we  afford  space 
to  enter  upon  it,  might  throw  some  light  upon  the  natural 
endowments  of  the  race;  but  we  must  content  ourselves 
with  a  few  general  descriptions,  cited  indiscriminately  from 
(liiTcrcnt  authors. 

The  dwellings  of  the  Esquimaux  consist  either  of  move- 
able tents,  constructed  of  poles  and  skins,  in  the  style  of 
an  ordinary  Indian  Avigwam,  or  of  regularly  arched  domes 
of  snow  and  ice.  Th(>  precision,  rapidity,  and  geometrical 
accuracy  which  they  display  in  shaping  the  blocks  of  which 


\*  M 


mt, 


if 


t>. 


t> 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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A 


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1.0 


I.I 


2.5 


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I.'-  m 

Illll  1.8 


pS      1.4      1.6      . 

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► 

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<p 


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y 


/A 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


z 


& 

^ 


C^ 


^ 


I'T-  I 


■  A  '  ■   ■ 


V  (.. 


r;fv':,-. 


ta!  '■>■ 


t,.- 


r:.i''.  ■* 


■■'^m 


420 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


these  snow  huts  are  composed,  excite  the  admiration  of 
the  beholder.  An  art  which  the  architects  of  the  ancient 
nations  of  Europe  never  acquired — the  formation  of  the 
arch — has  from  time  immemorial  been  in  use  among  this 
untutored  race.  The  snow  houses  prove  as  tight,  warm, 
and  comfortable  as  could  be  desired ;  but  the  habits  of 
the  occupants  render  them  insufferably  offensive  to  the 
whites.  CroAvded  with  dogs,  defiled  with  oil,  blubber,  and 
offal ;  and  blackened  by  smol'  e  and  filth,  they  are  said  to 
nauseate  even  those  whose  lives  are  passed  amid  the  im- 
purities of  a  whale-ship.  A  person  entering  one  of  these 
huts  is  obliged  to  creep  through  a  low  arched  passage  into 
the  principal  apartment,  which,  like  those  leading  from  it, 
presents  the  appearance  of  a  perfectly -formed  dome,  lighted 
by  a  window  of  transparent  ice  let  into  the  roof. 

The  tents,  used  upon  the  migratory  expeditions  in  search 
of  game,  consist  of  skins,  supported  by  a  circle  of  poles 
bent  together  at  the  top,  and  in  severe  weather,  thickly 
lined  within  with  rein-deer  skins.  During  the  long  dark 
night  of  winter,  when  food  is  exceedingly  scarce;  shut  up 
in  these  dismal  abodes;  and  enduring  extremes  of  cold 
and  privation  elsewhere  unknown;  the  condition  of  the 
PJsquimaux  seems  most  deplorable  to  one  who  has  lived  in 
the  enjoyment  of  the  comforts  of  civilization.  Far,  how- 
ever, from  complaining  of  their  lot,  they  exhibit  a  singular 
cheerfulness  and  equanimity,  even  when  in  the  greatest 
straits.  Pirry  speaks,  in  the  following  words,  of  the  mis- 
erable condition  of  a  few  Esquimaux  who  inhabited  a  hut 
in  a  deserted  village,  after  the  rest  of  the  tribe  had  moved 
westward  at  the  approach  of  sjjring.  "The  remaininj.'' 
tenants  of  each  hut  had  combined  to  occupy  one  of  the 
apartments;  a  great  part  of  the  bed-places  were  still  bare, 
and  the  wind  and  drift  blowing  in  through  the  holes  which 
they  had  not  yet  taken  the  trouble  to  stop  up.  The  old 
man  Ilikkeicra  and  his  wife  occui)ied  a  hut  l)y  themselves, 


NORTHERN  RACES. 


421 


without  any  lamp,  or  a  single  ounce  of  meat  belonging  to 
them;  while  three  small  skins,  on  which  the  former  was 
lying,  were  all  that  they  possessed  in  the  way  of  blankets. 
Upon  the  whole,  I  never  beheld  a  more  miserable  specta- 
cle, and  it  seemed  a  charity  to  hope  that  a  violent  and 
constant  cough  with  which  the  old  man  was  afflicted, 
would  speedily  combine  with  his  age  and  infirmities  to 
release  him  from  his  present  suiferings.  Yet,  in  the  midst 
of  all  this,  he  was  even  cheerful,  nor  was  there  a  gloomy 
countenance  to  be  seen  at  the  village." 

The  flesh  of  the  rein-deer,  musk-ox,  walrus,  and  seal, 
with  fish,  water-fowl,  and  occasionally  the  carcase  of  a 
stranded  whale,  forms  the  chief  nourishment  of  the  Es- 
quimaux. Nothing  that  has  life  comes  amiss  to  them,  and, 
although  they  prefer  cooked  meat  to  raw,  this  preparation 
is  by  no  means  deemed  essential.  The  only  vegetable  diet 
procurable  at  the  extreme  north,  except  at  those  places 
where  the  natives  can  obtain  foreign  articles,  consists  of 
the  leaves  of  sorrel,  ground-willow,  &c.,  with  a  few  berries 
and  roots. 

"In  eating  their  meals,"  according  to  Parry's  account, 
"the  mistress  of  the  family,  having  previously  cooked  the 
meat,  takes  a  large  lump  out  of  the  pot  with  her  fingers, 
and  hands  it  to  her  husband,  who,  placing  a  part  of  it  be- 
tween his  teeth,  cuts  it  off  with  a  large  knife  in  that 
position,  and  then  passes  the  knife  and  meat  together  to 
his  next  neighbor.  In  cutting  off  a  mouthful  of  meat  the 
knife  passes  so  close  to  their  lips,  that  nothing  but  constant 
habit  could  insure  them  from  the  danger  of  the  most  ter- 
rible gashes;  and  it  would  make  an  English  mother 
shudder  to  see  the  manner  in  which  children  five  or  six 
years  old,  are  at  all  times  freely  trusted  with  a  knife  to 
be  used  in  this  way." 

Most  of  the  birds  and  quadrupeds  upon  which  they  rely 
are  migratory,  and  only  to  be  taken  between  the  months 


I  il 


i^'^i-  '■■  ■■■■■ 


1  [hlmr,''^n 


^  ■ 


r, 


i 


,7(         W''<L:f;iE!'s»  '■.■'/' 


m 


■';•'.[ 


A:'.' 


-1  ■ 


422 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMEKICA. 


of  May  and  October.  In  Marcli,  Apiil  and  May,  tlie  dif- 
ficult and  dangerous  hunting  of  the  seal  and  walrus  is  their 
oidy  resource,  and  success  in  the  pursuit  their  only  refuge 
from  starvation.  The  "kaiak"  or  canoe,  constructed  of 
skins,  and  capable  of  containing  but  a  single  person,  is  all- 
essential  in  scal-liunting.  Great  dexterity  is  required  in 
-its  management,  and  how  the  operation  of  throwing  the 
dart  or  harpoon,  and  of  securing  the  bulky  prey,  can  be 
carried  on  in  safety  in  such  a  slender  and  unsteady  con- 
veyance, seems  incomprehensible  to  the  unpractised  eye. 
The  frail  boat  is  built  with  great  elegance  and  lightness.  A 
frame  of  slender  beams  of  fir  is  constructed,  twenty  or  twen- 
ty-five feet  in  length,  a  little  less  than  two  feet  in  breadth, 
and  about  one  foot  deep.  This  is  entirely  covered  with 
the  skin  of  the  neitiek,  or  small  seal,  so  neatly  and  strongly 
sewed  as  to  be  perfectly  water-tight.  A  circular  hole  is 
then  cut  in  the  deck,  wherein  sits  the  solitary  navigator, 
urging  the  kaiak  forward  by  means  of  a  paddle  having  a 
blade  at  each  end.  lie  cannot  founder  so  long  as  lie  can 
maintain  an  upright  position.  An  upset  would  be  inev- 
itable destruction  to  one  unacquainted  with  the  nature  of 
the  craft,  but  the  Esquimaux  readily  rights  the  kaiak  under 
such  circumstances,  by  a  dexterous  use  of  his  paddle.  A 
float  is  attached  to  the  harpoon,  used  in  striking  the  seal, 
which  prevents  him  from  escape  by  diving.  As  he  roaj)- 
pears,  after  a  momentary  submersion,  his  pursuers  press 
upon  and  speedily  dispatch  him. 

AVhen  the  prey  is  brought  to  land,  the  duty  of  flaying, 
separating,  and  preparing  it  for  preservation,  devolves 
upon  the  women.  Nothing  is  allowed  to  be  wasted,  but 
every  portion  of  the  carcase  is  applied  to  some  useful  ])nr- 
pose ;  the  fastidiousness  of  the  Avhites,  touching  the  portions 
suitable  for  food,  being  utterly  unknown.  The  lean  meat 
of  the  seal  and  other  animals  is  preserved  in  various  ways. 
Much  of  it  is  cut  in  thin  slices,  and  dried  in  the  warm  and 


dut;''  of  flaying, 


NORTHERN  RACES. 


423 


smoky  atmosphere  of  the  luits,  and  a  concentrated  article 
of  food,  called  "Peinmican,"  is  prepared  by  pounding  it 
with  fat. 

The  welcome  event  of  a  wounded  or  dead  whale  being 
driven  on  shore,  brings  down  tlie  whole  neighboring  pop- 
ulation to  share  in  the  spoil.  Nothing  could  be  more 
valuable  to  these  peojile  than  the  various  substances  ob- 
tained from  the  enormous  carcase.  The  blubber  is  sepa- 
rated and  preserved  for  oil;  the  coarse  muscular  tissue 
forms  to  them  a  palatable  article  of  food;  the  sinews  serve 
for  lines  and  cordage;  and  the  whale-bone  is  made  avail- 
able by  traffic  with  Europeans. 

Of  the  rein-deer,  two  species  furnish  food  and  clothing 
to  the  inhabitants  of  the  cold  regions  of  northern  America, 
although,  singularly  enough,  none  of  them  have  succeeded 
in  domesticating  the  animal.  They  are  accustomed  to 
discard  no  portion  of  the  flesh,  and  even  devour  the  con- 
tents of  the  stomach.  Perhaps  in  no  instance  has  the 
service  of  an  animal  proved  of  more  signal  aid  and  comfort 
to  any  race  than  that  of  the  dog  to  the  Esquimaux.  The 
principal  use  to  which  he  is  applied  is  that  of  drawing  the 
sledge,  but,  upon  hunting  excursions,  in  the  summer,  he  is 
loaded  with  a  weight,  it  is  said,  of  some  thirty  pounds. 
The  sledges  in  which  winter  journe3's  are  performed,  are 
drawn  by  a  number  of  dogs  projiortionate  to  the  weight  to 
be  transported,  the  distance  to  be  traversed,  and  perhaps 
the  possessions  of  the  owner.  The  animals  are  separately 
connected  with  the  sledge,  at  unequal  distances,  by  single 
thongs  of  leather  or  hide.  The  most  sagacious  and  well- 
trained  of  the  pack  is  jjlaced  at  the  end  of  the  longesi 
tether,  some  twenty  feet  from  the  vehicle,  to  act  as  leader, 
and  the  intelligence  and  certainty  with  which  he  obeys  the 
signal  of  conunand  from  the  driver  is  very  striking. 

The  whip  with  which  the  movements  of  the  team  are 
guided,  and  with  which  the  refractory  or  stupid  are  disci- 


m'^' 


■'■■■■   W''m0^' 


IX-yM^' 


'  :.m 


■.V'i  ■«.;£*■'■■  J 


if:' 


■■lt:'^ 


■    j 

a 

i' 

''^ 

•*it 

■. 

1 

■  '■[" 

7;'^'  ■*»-,;  I  ",  .;■ 


<*.. 


424 


INDIAN"  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


pliiicd,  consists  of  a  short  stock — only  eighteen  inches  in 
length — to  which  a  lush,  long  enough  to  reach  the  leading 
dog,  is  attached,  and  allowed  to  trail  beside  the  sledge. 
This  lash  is  rendered  pliable  by  a  process  resorted  to  for 
preparing  leather  for  various  j)urposes,  viz :  that  of  cheicinrj. 
The  operation  is  performed  by  tlic  women,  and  to  its  con- 
stant exercise,  some  travellers  attribute  the  bad  condition 
of  their  teeth,  before  noticed.  The  sledge  is  composed  of 
two  runners,  of  wood  or  bone, — sometimes  of  the  jaw- 
bones of  a  whale — connected  by  cross-pieces  and  lashings. 
Moss  is  packed  closely  between  these,  and  skins  are  laid 
upon  the  top.  The  runners  are  preserved  from  wear,  and 
made  to  slide  easily  over  the  surface  of  the  snow  by  coat 
ing  them  with  smooth  ice. 

The  Es(|uimaux  perform  journeys  of  sixty  miles  a  day, 
with  a  single  pack  of  dogs,  and  stories,  at  first  glance  al- 
most incredible,  are  told  of  the  distances  accomplished,  and 
the  weights  transported  by  particularly  fine  specimens  of 
the  breed.  Besides  serving  as  a  beast  of  burden  and 
draught,  the  Esquimaux  dog  is  a  bold  and  active  assistant 
in  the  hunt  for  rein-deer,  bears,  &c. ;  but,  singularly  enough, 
while  he  will  rush  upon  an  animal  so  much  his  superior 
in  size  and  strength  as  the  bear,  he  is  terror-stricken  at 
the  sight  of  the  wolf,  to  whom  he  bears  a  striking  resem- 
blance, and  with  whom  he  would  seem  more  equally 
matched. 

Faithful  and  docile,  and  subsisting  upon  the  coarsest 
refuse,  the  dog  supplies  to  the  Esquimaux  the  place  of  the 
rein-deer,  in  other  high  latitudes,  for  all  laborious  service. 
He  meets  with  nothing  but  rough  treatment  and  scanty 
flire:  his  master  never  caresses  or  makes  much  of  him; 
but  this  does  not  prevent  him  from  forming  the  strong 
attachments  peculiar  to  the  race. 

No  where  do  we  find  a  system  of  patriarchal  government 
maintained  in  more  primeval  simplicity  than  among  the 


riJ 


i  ■*  * . 


"^■iil 


itecn  inches  in 
veil  tlie  leading 
ide  the  sledge, 
resorted  to  for 
that  of  chewing. 

and  to  its  con- 
3  bad  condition 
is  composed  of   '  | 
les  of  the  jaw-    ' 
es  and  lashings.     \ 
1  skins  are  laid 

from  wear,  and  i 
e  snow  by  coat- 

<.ty  miles  a  day,   ; 
t  first  glance  al-   ; 
complished,  and 
ne  specimens  of   \ 
of  burden  and 
active  assistant 
j;ularly  enough, 
ch  his  superior 
rror-stricken  at 
striking  resem- 
more  erpially 

on  the  coarsest 
the  place  of  the 
jorious  service, 
lent  and  scanty 
much  of  him; 
ling  the  strong 

hal  government 
han  among  the 


■Hc'";.", 


■  •'t-'r.T;^ 


yr\.'  ■  ^.  >-- 


^■'.u^  r-.-r^- 


rur.    si/.ry.n    box. 

Tina  niiiiuiil  iiilmbils  llio  ii'y  lunions  tra\iu»i'tl  by  tlio  Ksnuiinuux  iiiid  oIluT  NiirllKMU 

triljca.     lie  ia  iiiuili  huiriM-  ;iiiil  inun'  ('■■iir:iu-fiiti<  tliiin  ili,'  cuiiiinoii  I'ox,  tiiivim;  bcuii  «uu- 
fouiided  bv  Uiiiflm  Oiccuniiii!,'  In  M.  Uoilanli  wil'i  'Im  luup  iiuii'.  ur  bUcU  wuil'. 


»■ 

'  '    \ 

'  v;  :0.  :-.'4 

i 

'      ■■•■    .■;%'/A 

■*                        ';■■■.'- 

i^-l^-l&n 

■      :-,'  i/i'-'    ',, 
'    '  '  »■  .',1  ■ 


\/"' 


'!■ 


■    •,"  ■'     Jv.'"'/.*'-     ' 

'Mi  ¥WH 


(u 


.>  ■■■I 


M 


NOKTIIEIiN-  RACi;S. 


425 


Esquimaux,  and  no  where  is  that  authority  more  mildly 
administered.  Families  and  communities  live  together  in 
tlie  greatest  harmony,  and  no  one  arrogates  to  himself  a 
control  over  those  about  him  beyond  the  circle  of  his  own 
fixmily.  Dexterity  and  success  in  fishing  and  hunting  form 
almost  the  only  claim  for  admiration  or  distinction  in  the 
eyes  of  this  unsophisticated  people.  So  peaceful  and  con- 
tented a  life,  amid  the  eternal  snows  of  the  north,  with 
such  few  means  of  comfort  and  enjoyment,  stands  forth  in 
striking  contrast  with  the  private  discontent  and  public 
animosity  of  more  privileged  nations. 

Where  the  natives  of  Greenland  and  other  countries  at 
the  north  have  held  free  intercourse  with  Europeans,  in- 
stances have  been  fuund,  among  them,  of  much  higher 
intelligence  than  is  usually  attributed  to  the  race.  Cap- 
tain Parr}',  in  his  second  voyage,  particularly  describes  a 
female  named  lligliuk.  Iler  correct  ear  for  music,  and 
appreciation  of  its  beauties,  were  very  remarkable;  and 
the  interest  and  attention  which  all  the  novel  m,cehanieal 
arts  exercised  on  board  the  ship  excited  in  her  mind,  gave 
evidence  of  no  little  caj)aeity  for  improvement. 

We  cannot  give  a  better  idea  of  the  effect  which  inter- 
course with  foreigners  has  produced  upon  some  of  the 
Esquimaux,  in  changing  their  original  quiet  and  unobtru- 
sive demeanor,  than  by  the  following  quotation  from 
Captain  Lyon: 

"I  could  not  but  compare  the  boisterous,  noisy,  fat  fel- 
lows, who  were  along-side,  in  excellent  canoes,  with  well- 
furnished,  iron-headed  weapons,  and  handsome  clothing, 
with  the  poor  people  we  had  seen  at  Southam])ton  Island ; 
the  latter  with  their  spear-heads,  arrows,  and  even  knives 
of  chipped  flint,  without  canoes,  wood,  or  iron,  and  with 
their  tents  and  clothes  full  of  holes,  yet  of  mild  manners, 
quiet  in  speech,  and  as  grateful  for  kindness  as  they  were 
anxious  to  return  it,  while  those  now  along-side  had,  per- 


'-      i  i<.'     '-iit  5.-'l\  J 


i!l[ 

.;■! 


M  ^^mm 


i. 


>    .'>V 


■Hi 


(h 


■  ,-v 


■  0'$ 


•  •^•,;,;.A./: 


'\. 


I  )  *>.    •     '    "14*.^  .^  .?  'iJ  .■  n 


.i 


>'. , 


-...«  ■' 


%;.-jl^:f.^'/4^'^-:' 


426 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


li.ai).s,  scarcely  n,  virtue  left,  owing  to  the  rogiiery  they  had 
learned  from  their  annual  visit  to  the  Hudson's  Bay  sliip,s. 
An  air  of  saucy  indej>cndenco,  a  most  clamorous  derniuid 
for  presents,  and  several  attenii)ts  at  theft,  some  of  which 
were  successful,  wore  tlieir  leading  eharacteristies.  Yet  I 
saw  not  why  I  should  constitute  myself  the  censor  of  those 
poor  savages;  and  our  barter  was  accordingly  conducted 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  enrich  them  very  considerably." 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE  ESQUniAUX  OF  MELVILLE  rENINSlILA — THEIR  STATIIUE  AND 

COSTUME — SNOW  HUTS  AND  TIIEIK  FUKMTUKE — IMPLEMENTS 

FOR    HUNTING  AND  SEALING MENTAL  TRAITS. 

The  most  complete  picture  ever  yet  given  of  Esquimaux 
life  and  peculiarities,  is  to  be  found  in  "Parry's  Second 
Voyage  in  search  of  a  North-west  Passage;"  particularly 
in  that  portion  of  the  work,  at  the  end  of  the  narrative, 
devoted  to  an  "account  of  the  Esquimaux  of  Melville  Pe- 
ninsula and  the  adjoining  Islands."  It  is  our  purj)osc,  in 
this  chapter,  to  give  a  brief  outline  of  the  statistics  and 
details  there  collected. 

Ecspecting  their  general  appearance.  Parry's  descrip- 
tion of  the  natives  does  not  vary  materially  from  that 
which  we  have  already  given.  lie  represents  their  stature 
as  follows:  the  "average  height  of  the  men,  five  feet,  five 
and  one-third  inches;  of  the  women,  five  feet  and  onc-lialf 
inch."  The  women  appear  shorter  than  this  standard, 
from  a  stoop  acquired  by  carrying  tlieir  infants  in  a  "hood," 
and  from  the  great  bulk  of  their  clothing.  They  are  not 
an  ill-formed  race,  and,  among  the  tribe,  were  "three  or 
four  grown-up  people,  of  each  sex,  who,  when  divested  of 
their  skin  dresses,  their  tattooing,  and,  above  all,  of  their 


ngitory  tlicy  luvd 
Ison's  Uiiy  Hliips. 
lUiorouH  (Ii'inuiul 
,,  some  of  which 
!toristic9.  Yet  I 
c  censor  of  tliose 
lin<2;ly  comluctod 
cousidcnibly." 


lElR  STATURE  AND 
K IMVLEHENTS 

I.  TUAITS.  , 

I 

cn  of  Esquimaux 
"  Parry's  Scooiul 
igc ;"  particuhirly 
of  the  narrative, 
X  of  Melville  Po- 
our  pur[)osc,  in 
the  statistics  and 

Parry's  dcscrip- 
lirially  from  that 
lents  their  stature 
icn,  five  feet,  five 
feet  and  onedialf 
[in  this  standard, 
Imtsina  "hood," 
They  are  not 

',  were  "three  or 
when  divested  of 
.bove  all,  of  their 


o 


NORTHERN  RACES. 


427 


dirt,  might  have  been  eonsidcred  pleasing-looking,  if  not 
handsome  pco})le,  in  any  town  in  Europe." 

They  wear  their  hair  generally  long;  the  men  allow- 
ing it  to  flow  carelessly,  while  the  women  dispose  it  in 
two  plaits  or  qucs,  which  hang  down  on  each  side  of 
the  face. 

Their  dress  bears  marks  of  no  little  skill  and  nicety  of 
finish,  and  is  admirably  ealcuhited  to  defend  them  from 
the  terrible  severity  of  the  winter-season.  A  double  outfit 
of  jackets,  breeches,  and  boots,  made  of  deer  and  seal- 
skins; the  imier  suit  having  the  hair  tu^'^ed  inward,  while 
the  outer  garment  exhibits  a  hairy  defence  against  tlio 
snow  or  rain,  is  essential  \ipon  all  occasions  of  exposure 
to  the  open  air.  Water-proof  boots  and  shoes,  made  of 
soal-skin,  form  a  complete  protection  from  the  wet  when 
the  men  are  engaged  in  fishing  and  scaling.  A  warm 
and  comfortable  hood  of  furs  covers  the  bead  and  neck, 
and  surrounds  tlic  flice.  I'he  most  absurd  and  ungainly 
portion  of  the  dress  of  either  sex  is  the  boot  worn  by  tho 
women.  This  is  enormously  enlarged,  for  the  purpose  of 
furnishing  a  convenient  pocket  or  general  receptacle  for 
whatever  may  be  carried  upon  the  person.  The  cavity  is 
even  large  enough  to  admit  of  a  child  being  stowed  in  it — 
a  common  custom  in  Labrador. 

All  their  clotliing  is  strongly  and  neatly  stitched,  and 
no  little  pains  is  taken  to  render  it  ornamental  by  a  judi- 
cious arrangement  of  light  and  dark  furs. 

The  true  Indian  taste  for  beads  and  showy  ornaments 
prevails,  and  is  satisfied,  when  other  materials  are  want- 
ing, by  affixing  numberless  strings  of  the  teeth  of  wild 
animals  to  the  borders  of  their  garments.  In  one  instance, 
"a  row  of  foxes'  noses"  was  seen  "attached  to  the  fore- 
part of  a  woman's  jacket  like  a  tier  of  black  l)uttons." 

All  the  women  of  this  tribe  were  thoroughly  tattooed. 
The  manner  of  performing  this  operation  was  by  passing 


<■  '.  <^1 


■'■' . 


'-:,  .\; 


,!■  ', 


,ft;,  >',  ■      ■ 


■    '      ■■••■'■     hJ    i!*.! 


:  1' 


I    , 


>h 


til 


428 


INDIAX   RACKS  OF  AMERICA. 


a  needle  and  thrciid  through  the  outer  skin,  the  thread 
being  saturated  with  oil  and  lamp-black. 


The  intcniiil  arnuigoments  of  tlie  circular  snow-huts  hi 
which  the  winter  is  passed,  arc  as  follows:  Around  each 
room,  next  the  wall,  a  bank  of  snow  is  built  to  the  lKMi.dit 
of  two  or  tlu'co  feet,  upon  which  are  j)laced,  first  a  coating 
of  })ebl)les,  then  a  row  of  tent-poles,  ])atldles,  and  whale- 
bone, and  above  all  a  layer  of  birch  twigs.  Upon  tlieso 
are  spread  tlie  skins  and  I'urs  which  constitute  the  bedding 
of  the  imnates.  It  is  evident  that  cpiitc  a  low  tem])eraturo 
must  be  maintained  in  order  to  preserve  both  bouse  and 
furniture.  'J'lie  oidy  means  of  warming  the  huts  is  by  a 
sort  of  lump,  consisting  of  a  shallow  dish  wrought  of  stono 
{Lqii.s  oll(irLs)^  "its  lorm  being  the  lesser  segment  of  a  cir- 
cle. The  wick,  consisting  of  dry  moss  rubbed  between 
the  hands  till  it  is  quite  inllannnable,  is  disposed  along 
the  edge  of  the  lamp  on  the  straight  side,  and  a  greater 
or  smaller  (piantity  lighted  according  to  the  heat  reepiirod 
or  the  fuel  that  can  be  aiforded."  The  flame  is  fed  by 
the  drippings  of  a  slice  of  fat  or  blubber,  suspended  with- 
in reach  of  the  blaze.  The  stone  pots  for  cooking  are 
hung  over  this  lamp,  and,  above  all,  is  a  net,  stretched 
upon  a  hoop,  whereon  wet  boots  and  other  garments  are 
placed  to  dry. 

The  general  atmosphere  of  the  apartment  is  kept  a  lit- 
tle below  the  freezing  point.  Parry  observed  the  ther- 
mometer, at  a  time  when  it  fell  to  twenty-five  degrees 
below  zero  in  the  open  air,  to  stand  at  thirty-two  degrees 
within  a  few  feet  of  the  fire ;  and  this  when  the  hut  wtus 
filled  with  Indians  and  dogs.  To  increase  the  warmth, 
occasions  a  troublesome  dripping  from  the  roof,  an  incon- 
venience to  which  the  inhabitants  are  obliged  to  submit 


NOKTIIKRN   HACKS. 


429 


(luring  8omo  of  the  spring  months,  before  the  season  has 
become  mild  enough  fortUvoUing  in  tents. 

Tiie  principal  hou.sehoM  utensils  uro  the  lamps  and  pots 
above  mentioned,  certain  cups  of  the  horn  of  the  musk- 
ox,  vessels  of  whalebone,  and  the  ivory  or  iron  .cnife. 
The  latter,  or  at  least  the  material  of  which  it  is  conn)i)sed, 
is  obtained  by  commerce  with  the  whites.  They  manu- 
facturo  themselves  a  knife,  having  a  thin  iron  edge  let 
into  the  bone  which  forms  the  blade.  To  a  limited  extent 
some  of  the  Ksipiimaux  obtain  and  manufacture  iron  from 
the  iruu  pyrites  found  in  certain  localities,  and  which 
serves  them  I'or  Hint  and  steel  in  lighting  llres. 

The  im{)lements  for  hunting,  in  use  among  these  Plsqui- 
inaux,  are  simj)le  but  eifective.  The  "  siatko,"  which  serves 
the  ])urpose  of  a  harpoon  in  taking  seals,  walruses,  and 
even  whales,  is  a  partic\ilarly  ingenious  contrivance.  It 
consists  of  a  short  piece  of  bone,  pointed  with  iron,  and 
attached  by  the  centre  to  the  "allek,"  or  long  thong  of 
leather.  The  blunt  end  of  the  siatko  is  fitted  to  the  end 
of  the  dart,  and  is  attached  by  a  line,  that  it  can  be  dis- 
engaged the  instant  the  dart  strikes  the  prey.  From  the 
manner  in  which  it  is  slung,  it  instantly  turns  at  right 
angles  to  the  direction  of  its  entrance,  and  will  endure  a 
very  severe  strain  before  it  can  be  drawn  out.  At  the 
other  end  of  the  "allek"  is  tied  an  inflated  seal-skin,  which 
serves  to  bring  the  animal  quickly  to  the  surface  of  the 
water. 

For  their  bows,  they  are  obliged  to  use  the  wood  of  the 
tir-tree,  and,  in  order  to  give  them  the  requisite  strength 
and  elasticity,  they  are  very  artfully  and  neatly  served 
with  lines  constructed  of  sinews.  At  each  end  of  the 
bow,  is  a  knob  of  bone,  and  to  these  the  strengthening 
lines  are  attached  and  drawn  tight,  while  the  bow  is  bout 
backward.  They  pass  from  end  to  end,  on  the  bacdv  of 
the  bow,  and  are  secured  and  assisted  by  other  shorter  corda 


m 


■i*i' 


:(WJ: 


■I  .  '»!,■ 


I   '    .•■cl 


■■'  1';-, 
■  'i 

'     '»■'.•'(  J 

.'.  "  ■  '' 

•  ■  "  »l 


v'v;^,' 


t  li 


fir       .' 


'VA  - 


,1- ':•'■■' ' 


'.m-'^' 


"  'I.. ,  ■  ■■■.:■.  ■•», 


1^-' 


■;k-.''i'. 


t ' ' 


''  :'.     ..V  ■ 


h::-VV^^'i\< 


H ; 


^:;':i- 


430 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


fastened  by  hitches  round  the  wood.  The  above  descrip- 
tion a2)plies  to  the  best  weapons  of  the  sort. — "A  bow  in 
one  piece,"  says  the  narrative,  "is  very  rare:  they  gen- 
erally consist  of  from  two  to  five  pieces  of  bone,  of  une- 
qual lengths,  secured  together  by  rivets  and  tree-nails." 
The  arrows  are  of  wood  and  bone  united,  and  have  heads 
of  iron  or  slate.  They  will  inflict  a  mortal  wound  at  a 
distance  of  forty  or  fifty  yards. 

In  the  construction  of  all  these  implements,  a  knife  and 
a  drill  are  the  principal  tools  used.  The  latter  operates 
with  a  bow,  like  that  in  common  use  among  us. 

It  is  evident  that  intellectual  advancement  is  entirely 
incompatible  with  such  a  life  as  Ave  have  described.  The 
ideas  of  the  Supernatural  entertained  by  the  Esquimaux 
are  vague  in  the  extreme.  "  They  do  not  appear,"  says 
the  description  in  Parry,  "to  have  any  idea  of  the  exist- 
ence of  One  Supreme  Being,  nor,  indeed,  can  they  be  said 
to  entertain  any  notions  on  this  subject  which  may  be  dig- 
nified with  the  name  of  Eeligion." 

Of  certain  games,  consisting  mostly  in  fantastic  distor- 
tions of  the  body,  and  comical  ejaculations,  they  are  never 
Avcary;  and  a  strange  monotonous  song,  of  which  the 
Avords  and  music  are  given  by  Parry,  furnishes  amusement 
until  the  performers  desist  from  sheer  weariness. 

Their  moral  character  is  probably  vipon  a  par  with  that 
of  most  savages.  They  do  not  possess  the  high,  indomita- 
ble spirit,  the  scorn  of  suffering,  the  clannish  fury  of  pa- 
triotism, nor  the  fondness  for  war,  so  commonly  considered 
the  nobler  traits  of  the  American  aborigines;  but,  on  the 
other  hand,  they  are  more  kindly  domestic  in  their  feel- 
ings, and  less  cruel  and  revengeful  than  their  brethren  at 
the  South. 

They  exhibit  little  gratitude  for  favors,  and  when  ex- 
posed to  the  strong  temptation  presented  them  by  the  pres- 
ence of  such  a  magazine  of  treasure  as  a  foreign  ship,  they 


■?  ■■■.  '     v.'.    ■>.■■.. 


above  cTescrip- 
t. — "  A  bow  in 
are:  tbey  gen- 
J"  bone,  of  unc- 
xnd  tree-nails." 
md  have  heads 
tal  wound  at  a 

nts,  a  knife  and 
latter  operates 
ig  us. 

nent  is  entirely 
:lescribed.     The 
the  Esquimaux 
ot  appear,"  says 
lea  of  the  exist-  , 
can  they  be  said  i 
lieh  may  be  dig- 
fantastic  distor- 
s,  they  are  never 
of  which  the 
shcs  amusement 
incss. 

a  par  with  that 
high,  indomita- 
nish  fury  of  pa- 
nonly  considered 
nes ;  but,  on  the 
ic  in  their  feel- 
their  brethren  at 

s,  and  when  ex- 
tern by  the  pres- 
jreign  ship,  they 


5) 


ir 


f? 


NORTUERN  RACES. 


431 


will  generally  indulge  in  pilfering.  Those  travellers  who 
have  been  most  familiar  with  the  strange  race,  accord  to  them 
many  pleasing  qualities;  while  their  vices  arc  such  as  must 
naturally  result  from  their  destitute  and  hopeless  condition. 
Their  whole  history  might  prove  unspeakably  valuable  to 
us  did  we  wisely  gather  from  it  a  lesson  of  content. 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE  KNISTENEAUX,  CmPPEWAS,  ETC. 

The  Knisteneaux,  or  Crees,  are  a  nation  materially 
different  fi-om  the  P^squimaux.  They  have  a  much  nearer 
resemblance  than  that  people  to  the  other  North  Ameri- 
can tribes,  and,  from  close  analogies  in  language,  arc  con- 
sidered as  a  branch  of  the  great  Algonquin  stock,  which, 
centering  in  the  Canadas,  spread  over  such  an  extent  of 
the  North  American  continent. 

The  country  formerly  occupied  by  the  Knisteneaux — for 
the  ravages  of  the  small-pox  have  in  late  years  miserably 
reduced  their  immbcrs — is  of  vast  extent;  lying  between 
the  United  States  and  the  Esquimaux  region,  and  extend- 
ing westward  to  the  Rocky  ^lountains.  The  line  of  their 
occupation  is  thus  given  by  Mackenzie:  Commencing  with 
the  coast  of  Lal)rador,  it  extends  along  the  north  bank  of 
the  St.  Lawrence,  to  Montreal.  "The  line  then  follows 
the  Utawas  rivxr  to  its  source;  and  continues  from  thence 
nearly  west  along  the  high  lands  wdiich  divide  the  waters 
that  fiill  into  Lake  Su])erior  and  Hudson's  Bay.  It  then 
proceeds  till  it  strikes  the  middle  part  of  the  river  Wini- 
pic,  fi^llowing  that  water  through  the  Lake  Winipic,  to 
the  discharge  of  the  Saskatchawan  into  it;  from  thence  it 
accompanies  the  latter  to  Fort  George,  when  the  line  strik- 


I 
1 1 


:^i 


fe*'^"' 


"I 


]r 


,■>  ' 


fi";" 


•  i.  -.y'' .'  ''.41 


'  '  * : 


''■>'      •; 


:  ;  ■•■■■  X:"'i-  *i\ 


■a,.- 


;t'ri 


432 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


ing  by  tlic  head  of  tlic  Beaver  Eiver,  to  the  Elk  River, 
runs  along  its  banks  to  its  discharge  in  the  Lake  of  the 
Hills ;  from  which  it  may  be  carried  back  east  to  the  Isle 
a  la  Crosse,  and  so  on  to  Churcliill  by  the  Mississippi. 
The  whole  of  the  tract  between  tliis  line  and  Hudson's 
Bay  and  Straits,  (except  that  of  the  Esquimaux  in  the 
latter,)  may  be  said  to  be  exclusively  the  country  of  tlie 
Knisteneaux."  Thc}^  were  also  to  be  found  upon  liod 
River,  (wliich,  after  uniting  with  the  Assinaboin,  empties 
into  Lake  Winipeg,)  and  upon  the  south  branch  of  the 
Saskatchawan. 

These  people  possess  all  the  ordinary  characteristics  of 
the  American  Indian ;  the  copper  complexion,  black  How- 
ing  hair,  well-proportioned  limbs,  and  keen  black  eyes. 
Travellers  speak  of  the  women  as  being  far  more  attractive 
in  ])ersonal  a})pearance  than  the  generality  of  sqmnvs.  Ujiou 
them  devolves  all  the  drudgery  uf  domestic  life,  while  the 
men  devote  their  exclusive  attention  to  hunting  or  war. 

"\Vc  notice  no  very  material  variation,  except  so  far  as 
climate  and  the  nature  of  their  country  have  airected 
their  habits,  between  the  dress,  liabitations,  luxuries,  cere- 
monies, and  general  usages  of  the  Knisteneaux,  and  the 
great  body  of  our  western  Indians.  They  are  s{)oken  of  as 
of  a  friendly  and  hospitable  disj)osition,  and  nu  more  dis- 
honest in  their  dealings  than  otlier  savages,  although  some 
have  given  them  the  reputation  of  being  arrant  thieves. 

Little  of  distinctive  character  attaches  to  the  various 
minor  tribes  of  the  north,  until  we  reach  the  Esquimaux, 
with  whom  little  or  no  commerce  is  held  by  tliese  nations, 
and  with  whom,  from  time  immemorial,  they  have  waged  a 
desultory  warfare.  ^Mackenzie  describes  indi  viduals  and  vil- 
lages of  the  Red-Knives,  Beavers  Indians,  Dog-Hibs,  llaivs, 
Slaves,  Duguthee  Dines  (ipiai Tellers),  and  many  others; 
but  they  have  no  history,  and  few  noticeable  jjeeuliaritics. 

Tho.se  farthest  north  are  of  rather  a  lighter  complex- 


•  the  Elk  Elver, 
tlie  Lake  of  the 
k  east  to  tlie  Lslc 
T  the  Mlsslssipj)i. 
le  and  Hudson's 
squlmaux  in  tlie 
le  country  of  the 
found  upon  liod 
sinaboin,  empties 
til  branch  of  the 


cliaractcristies  of 
3xion,  black  ilow- 
keen  black  eyes. 
ar  more  attractive 
of  squaws.  Ujion 
;tic  life,  Avliilc  the 
[lunting  or  war, 
,  except  so  fur  as 
;ry  have  aifeoti'd 
lis,  luxuries,  cero- 
teneaux,  and  the 

arc  si)oken  of  as 

and  no  more  dis- 
cs, although  soDic 
I  arrant  thieves. 
;s  to  the  various 
I  the  Esquimaux, 

l)y  these  nations, 
hey  have  waged  a 
idividualsand  vil- 
,  Dog-Kibs,  Haves, 
md  many  others; 
able  peculiarities. 

lighter  complex- 


JV-..',  ,14  v 


'      .t 


1 

1     * 

r 

i  '• 

^.-vi 


^<■^ 


l<^'5>. 


:^^ 


-V-" 


'J^'ii-^.vs   lyjtrcHi. 


Va    FOR    SALMOJf 


t     SALMOJf 


NORTUERN  RACES. 


433 


ion  thcan  the  inhabitants  of  more  temperate  climes,  and  ex- 
hibit the  deteriorating  inlhience  of  a  life  in  a  cold  and 
desolate  country. 

Some  interesting  details  of  the  habits  and  character  of 
the  Dog-ifibs,  are  given  in  the  account  of  Sir  John  Kicli- 
nrdson's  Arctic  Sea^'ching  Expedition.  They  are  ratlier  a 
low  order  of  the  race,  and  have  held  snOieiiMit  intercourse 
with  the  wlutes  to  be  aware  of  their  own  deficiencies  and 
wants.  'l'li(>y  are  Tieverthelcss  cheerful,  and  even  hihiri- 
ous,  and  exhibit  little  or  none  of  that  proud  and  .stoical 
spirit  whicli  marl<s  the  more  celebrated  Indian  nations. 

They  are  grossly  imjjrovident,  although  warned  by  re- 
peated and  terrible  experience  of  fiiniinc  and  suiYering. 
When  game  is  plenty,  a  scene  of  general  waste  and  reple- 
tion is  ])resL"ited,  to  be  followed  by  the  utmost  misery  and 
want.  In  a  country  where  the  animals  upon  which  the 
natives  depend  for  subsistence  are  migratory  and  uncertain 
in  their  lialdts,  such  changes  of  condition  nuist  be  of  fre- 
quent occurrence. 

When  accounts  arc  brought  of  success  on  the  part  of 
the  hunting  parties,  the  whole  population  of  a  village  put 
themselves  at  once  en  route  to  share  the  spoil.  If  the  deer 
should  have  sliifted  their  quarters  before  the  arrival  of  the 
troupe,  and  the  place  of  rendezvous  be  far  from  home,  tlie 
return  is  accompanied  with  the  greatest  danger  and  dis- 
tress. Many  of  the  aged  and  infirm  are  l're(piently  lei't  to 
perish  under  such  circumstances. 

Of  several  families  of  tliis  nation,  with  whom  ^lackeu- 
zie  held  some  intercourse,  he  says:  "They  are  a  meagre, 
ugly,  ill-made  peo})le,  j)articnlarly  about  the  legs,  which 
are  very  clumsy,  and  covered  with  scabs.  The  latter  cir- 
cumstance proceeds,  probably,  fi'om  their  hal)itually  roast- 
ing them  before  the  fire.  Many  of  them  appeareil  to  be 
in  a  very  unhealthy  state,  which  is  owing,  as  I  imagine,  to 
their  natural  filth incss." 
28 


\    ■ 


■  1-   •■ 


I. 


[■:•'  '    '       , 


.    r 


43-1 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


The  ChippGwas  arc  spread  over  a  vast  region  at  the 
north,  the  limits  of  whicli  it  would,  perhaps,  be  impossi- 
ble accurately  to  deline.  Mackenzie,  writing  al)out  the 
year  1790,  lays  down  the  tract  occupied  by  tribes  who 
speak  substantially  the  same  language,  as  follows:  "It 
begins  at  Churchill,  and  runs  along  *hc  lines  of  se})aratii;n 
between  them  and  the  Knisteneaux,  up  the  Mississi])pi,  to 
the  Isle  a  la  Crosse,  passing  on  through  the  BulValo  Lako, 
liivcr  Lake,  and  Portage  la  Loche:  from  thence  it  pro- 
ceeds by  the  Elk  Iliver,  to  the  Lake  of  the  Hills,  and  goes 
directly  west  to  the  Peace  River;  and  up  that  river  to  its 
source  and  tributary  waters;  frona  whence  it  proceeds  to 
the  waters  of  the  Iliver  Columbia;  and  follows  that  river 
to  latitude  fifty-two  degrees  twenty-four  minutes,  nortli, 
and  longitude  one  hundred  and  twentj^-two  degrees  fifty- 
four  minutes  west,  where  the  Chepewyans  have  the  Atuali 
or  Chin  nation  for  their  neighbours.  It  then  takes  a  duo 
line  west  to  the  sea-coast." 

The  coast  Indians,  on  the  Pacific,  diifer  from  those  of 
whom  we  are  now  treating.  In  the  vicinity  of  Bherin^'s 
Straits,  tliey  are  Esquimaux,  but  as  wc  proceed  southwai'd, 
Ave  find  distinct  and  separate  races. 

The  Chippewas,  according  to  the  writer  above-quoteil, 
a  ^  a  quiet  peaceable  race,  of  a  timorous  disposition  ami 
wandering  habits.  They  take  great  pains  to  prepare  tlicir 
dress  so  as  to  resist  the  extreme  cold,  and  so  well  ai'c  they 
protected  in  this  respect,  that  when  arrayed  in  the  warm 
furs  and  skins  which  form  the  winter  attire,  one  of  the 
tribe  "will  lay  himself  down  on  the  ice  in  the  middle  of  a 
lake,  and  repose  in  comfort;  though  he  will  sometimes  find  u 
difiiculty  in  the  morning  to  disencumber  himself  of  the  snow 
drifted  on  him  during  the  night."  The  women  aro  not  bad- 
looking,  but  the  hard  service  of  drawing  loaded  sledges,  and 
the  continued  necessity  of  wearing  the  bulky  and  [londerous 
snow-shoe,  give  them  a  shuflling  and  awkward  gait. 


,^^      1 


J/:h' 


region  at  tlie 
ips,  bo  impo^;si- 
ting  about  the 
[  by  tribes  wlio 
IS   follows:  "It   i 
es  of  separaliuu 
6  Mississippi,  to 
le  Bull'alo  Lake, 
1  thence  it  pro- 
0  Ilills,  and  goes  ., 
tliat  river  to  its 
;e  it  proceeds  to 
bllows  that  river 

minutes,  north, 
wo  degrees  fifty- 
i  have  tlie  Atuali 
tben  takes  a  due 

er  from  those  of 
lity  of  Bherino's 
oceed  southward, 


,er  above-rpioti'il, 
s  disposition  and 
s  to  prepare  their 
so  well  are  lliey 
yed  in  the  warm 
ittire,  one  of  the 


I 


1  the  middle  of  a 
sometimes  fuid  a 

mselfofthesnow 
mien  are  not  had- 

laded  sledges,  and 
y  and  ponderous 

Pcward  gait. 


NORTHERN  RACES. 


435 


Great  ingenuity  and  skill  arc  displaj'cd  by  the  Chii)pe- 
was,  particularly  by  tliosc  dwelling  upon  the  head-\\atcrs 
of  the  Mississippi  in  the  construction  of  their  bircli-bai'k 
canoes.  Probably  in  no  other  part  of  the  world  are  boats 
to  be  found  so  light  and  portable,  and  yet  capable  of  car- 
rying an  crpial  burden.  Tliey  are  comnioidy  made  of  a 
siugle  roll  of  the  bark,  neatly  and  strong!}-  sewed,  and  so 
shaped,  by  the  adaptation  of  light  thwarts  or  brace:s,  as  to 
he  botli  graceful  and  swift.  It  requires,  however,  no  little 
adroitness  to  manage  one  of  these  light  crafts,  as  the  weight 
of  the  canoe  is  so  trifling  as  to  aid  very  little  in  the  j)iv- 
scrvation  of  equilibrium.  Sketches  of  Chipjiewa  canoes 
arc  given  by  ^Ir.  Catlin,  and  contrasted  with  the  awkward 
tubs  of  the  !Mandans. 

Mackenzie  says  that  these  people  are  not  like  the  Knis- 
teneaux  and  most  other  North  American  Indians,  reserved 
and  distant  in  their  communications  with  strangers  or  with 
each  other  after  a  long  separation;  and  that  they  do  not 
exhibit  those  extremes  of  alternate  energy  and  indolence 
so  noticeable  in  other  races. 

In  such  a  country  as  they  inhabit  their  food  must,  of 
course,  be  almost  entirely  animal.  They  are  more  skilled 
in  fishing,  and  in  snaring  deer,  beaver,  &c.,  than  in  the 
more  active  methods  of  securing  game.  Like  the  Esqui- 
maux, although  they  prefer  tlieir  meat  cooked,  they  can 
well  make  a  shift  to  eat  it  without  any  preparation,  when 
unable  to  procure  fuel.  On  their  journies,  they  are  sup- 
ported by  the  nutritious  and  portable  preparation  called 
pemniiean,  which  we  have  before  mentioned  as  in  use 
among  the  Esquimaux.  It  is  made  in  the  following  man- 
ner: Thin  slices  of  lean  meat  are  dried  over  a  fire,  or  by 
alternate  exposure  to  sun  and  frost,  and  then  pounded 
between  stones.  A  quantity  of  boiling  fat,  equal  to  the 
mass  of  meat,  is  then  poured  upon  it,  and  the  whole  is 
closely  packed  in  bags  or  baskets.     No  salt  or  other  con- 


^h  'mm. 


m^ 


I}.    ■'!(  1 


>^''':   ■.>:i\ 


■    .<-t 


'l  ■ 


■11 
-I'   ■■11 


\v  ■  J  I      ,.'<,  ;...  li', 


r ''.:.» 


430 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMKIUJA. 


diment  is  used  in  the  opcnition,  but,  in  some  instances 
the  pcmmicixn  is  made  savory  by  tlie  addition  of  marrow 
and  dried  berries. 

Some  of  the  men  are  observed  to  be  furnished  with  a 
thick  bushy  beard ;  but,  generally  speaking,  the  custom 
of  eradicating  this  appendage  is  common  to  the  Chij)pe- 
was,  as  to  most  other  of  the  Indian  nations.  Tattooing  is 
common  among  both  sexes,  and  serves  as  a  distinguishin<^ 
mark  of  the  difterent  tribes. 


VARIOUS  NATIONS  AND  TRIBES 

BETWEEN  THE  MISSISSIPPI  AND  THE  PACIFIC  OCEAN. 


CHAPTER  I. 

the  sioux,  or  dahcotas,  and  otiikr  trihes  of  the  same 
race:  classification — the  mandans:  their  number, 

SITUATION,  villages,  ETC. THEIR  CEMETERIES — 

AFFECTIONATE    REMEMBRANCE    OF  THE    DEAD. 

An  accurate  classification  of  the  American  Indians, 
cither  founded  upon  dissiniiharities  in  the  language  of  dif- 
ferent tribes,  or  upon  differences  in  physical  peculiarities, 
is  impo.ssible,  particularl}"-  in  treating  of  the  scattered  and 
wandering  people  of  the  far  west.  The  races  vary  by 
such  slight  shades  of  distinction,  and  such  analogies  exist 
between  their  languages,  that  even  where  the  distinction 
is  perfectly  evident  in  the  nation  at.  large,  the  line  of  de- 
marcation can  with  difllculty  be  drawn.  In  other  instances, 
the  same  nation,  when  divided  into  separate  clans,  inhabit- 
ing districts  of  dissimilar  nature,  and  resorting  to  different 
modes  of  life,  will  be  found,  in  the  course  of  one  or  two 
generations,  to  present  the  appearance  of  distinct  races. 

Perhaps  it  Avould  be  wiser  to  accept  the  popiilar  divisions, 
whether  derived  directly  from  the  natives,  or  established 
by  those  most  familiar  with  them,  than  to  attempt  any 
refined  distinctions.  In  an  essay  upon  natural  history, 
or  in  researches  into  historical  antiquities,  a  particularity 
might  be  useful  or  necessary,  which  in  an  outline  of  his- 
tory and  description  would  be  but  perplexing  and  tedious. 


lilt 

fm 

;,  . 

ij,,     ; 

li||| 

... f    li 

,   .  ;"■,•'•■  ^  ill''* 

,m 

'.I'!;, 


,  "j  «,  1 
;■  ■  i'.  »■ 
I  !■.  •, 

■  'j 
,*■  • 


408 


INDIAN  HACKS  OF  AMKUICA. 


I 


.*'  '  <• 


'.'I 


A  voHt  wilderness  iit  tlio  west,  upon  the  Missouri  and  tlio 
U])per  western  tributaries  of  tlui  Mississi|»|)i,  is  inlialtited 
by  tlie  various  ti'ibes  allied  to  tlie  Sioux  or  Dalieotah.  One 
of  the  earliest  aeeounts  {.nven  of  these  people,  then  known 
as  the  Naudt)wessies,  is  to  bo  (bund  in  the  travels  oC  Cap- 
tain Jonathan  Carver,  who  spent  the  winter  ol"  l7(l(i-7 
ainon;^'  them.  01'  later  observations  an<l  descriptions,  by 
far  the  most  interesting^  and  complete  a)'e  contaiutMl  in  Iho 
jiublished  letters  of  Mr.  (Jeorge  C'atliu,  acu'ompanied  as  tlicy 
arc  by  spirited  and  artistic  portraits  and  sketches  of  scenery. 

Tho.se  of  this  race  known  as  the  jiroper  Sioux,  sni  dimid 
Dahcotas,  are  mostly  established  upon  tlie  river  of  St.  Peter 
and  in  the  country  adjacent.  Some  of  the  eastern  ti'ibes 
are  more  or  less  agricultural,  but  the  others  are  wild  hunt- 
ers like  their  brethren  of  the  far  west.  The  Sioux  witc 
divided,  a  century  since,  intotho  following  eight  tribes:  the 
Wawpcentowas,  the  Tintons,  the  Afraeootan.s,  the  Maw- 
liaws  (Omawha.s),  and  the  Schians,  all  of  whom  (\wv\i  in 
the  priarie  country,  U])ou  the  St.  Peter,  and  three  other 
clans  of  the  then  unexplored  region  to  the  westward.  The 
Assinaboins  anciently  belonged  to  the  .same  stock. 

By  Mr.  Gallatin  the  race  is  divided  as  f(jllows:  "  1,  The 
Winuebagos,  of  Wi.sconsin;  2,  Tlie  Sioux  proper,  or  Dali- 
eotas,  and  the  Assinaboins;  t5,  The  Minetari  and  tribes 
allied  to  them;  4,  The  O.sages,  and  other  kindred  tribes," 
iarther  south. — {PrlklumVs  Nalund  History  of  }f(n}).  The 
Minctari  are  held  to  include  the  Crows  and  the  Mandans. 

To  a  description  of  this  last  people,  now,  as  a  si-paratc 
race,  entirely  extinct,  Mr.  Catlin  has  devoted  no  small 
])ortion  of  his  interesting  descriptions  of  western  advtMiturc. 
They  difTered  widely  from  all  other  American  Indians  in 
several  particulars.  The  most  noticeable  of  these  were  the 
great  diversity  in  complexion  and  in  the  color  and  texture 
of  the  hair.  AV^hen  visited  by  this  traveller,  in  18o2,  the 
Mandans  were  established  at  two  villages,  only  two  miles 


V\c^ 


\vest\ViU'<l.    T 


THIUKS  WKST  OF  THK  MISSISSll'IM. 


4^0 


asunder,  upon  tlio  left  bank  of  the  Missouri,  iibout  two 
luuulrcd  miles  below  the  riioutli  of  tiio  Yellowstone. 

There  were  then  not  far  from  two  thonsaml  of  th(i  trib(>, 
but,  from  tiicir  own  truditions,  ami  from  tin;  e.\t(!nsiv(! 
ruins  of  their  lormer  settlement — SDUie  distunee  below — it 
was  evident  that  their  nund)ers  iiad  greatly  deereaw'd. 
The  prine.ipal  town  was  strongly  fortified  upon  the  pre- 
c'ijiitous  river  bank,  on  two  sides  defended  by  the  winding 
stream,  and  on  tiie  otlier  by  ])i(pieting  of  heavy  timber, 
and  by  a  ditch.  'J'he  houses  within  were  so  elosuly  set  as 
to  allow  of  little  spaec  for  loeomotion.  They  were  [)ar- 
tially  suidc  in  the  ground,  and  the  roofs  were  eovered 
wi'h  earth  and  clay  to  sneh  a  depth  and  of  such  eonsis- 
leiicy  that  tiiey  allbrded  the  favorite  lounging  plaees  for 
the  oceupants. 

"One  is  surprised,"  says  Catlin,  "when  he  enters  thorn, 
to  see  the  neatness,  eondbrt,  and  spacious  dimensions  of 
these  earth-eovered  dwellings.  They  all  have  a  eircular 
form,  and"  are  from  forty  to  sixty  fiset  in  diameter.  Their 
foundations  are  i)repared  by  digging  some  two  feet  in  the 
ground,  and  Ibrming  the  floor  of  earth,  by  levelling  the 
rcfjuisite  size  for  tlu^  lodge."  The  building  consisted  of  a 
r(>w  of  jierpendicular  stakes  or  timbers,  six  feet  or  there- 
about in  height,  su[)])orting  long  rafters  for  the  roof  A 
hole  was  left  in  the  center  for  air,  light,  and  the  escape  of 
smoke.  The  rafters  were  sup{)orted  in  the  middle  by 
beams  and  posts:  over  them  was  laid  a  thick  coating  of 
willow  brush,  and  over  all  the  covering  of  earth  and  elav. 
An  excavation  in  the  centre  of  the  hut  was  used  as  a  tire- 
j)laee.  Each  of  those  houses  served  for  a  single  family,  or 
for  a  whole  circle  of  couTiections,  according  to  its  dimen- 
sions. The  furniture  consisted  of  little  mon^  than  a  rude 
sort  of  bedsteads,  with  sacking  of  buifalo  skin,  and  some- 
times an  ornamental  curtain  of  the  same  material.  Posts 
were  set  in  the  ground,  between  the  beds,  provided  with 


'    '.  ■*! 


'*'       il 


f    I 


.^:V 


.  1    .'>^- 


.^P.- 


■■>,'  ■ 

t ,':  •. 


!   V 


,•     ■■  i'v'Ti'-iei, 
■iM 


'(;.  f:^' 


410 


INDIAN  KAC'KH  Ul-'  AMKKIOA. 


jiegs,  from  wliicli  dopcnded  the  arms  and  accoutromcnts 
of  tlio  wiirriorH. 

"Tlii.s  urmii,^»'iiiciit  of  In-ds,  of  arms,  &(!.,"  coiitimu^s  our 
author,  "coinbiiiiii^  the  most  vivid  ilisphiy  and  arraiigo- 
mciit  of  colours,  oi'fur.s,  of  trinkets — of  barbed  and  ghnt- 
cniii^  ])oints  and  steel — of  mysteries  and  hoeua  pocus, 
toji;etlier  with  the  sombre  and  smoked  eolour  of  the  root' 
and  sides  of  th(!  lodge;  and  the  wihl,  and  rude,  and  red — 
the  graceful  (though  uncivil)  conversational,  garrulous, 
storytelling,  and  happy,  though  ignorant  and  untutored 
groups,  tliat  arc  smoking  tlieir  j)ipes — wooing  thi'ir  sweet- 
hearts, and  embracing  their  little  ones  about  their  pciK-el'iil 
and  endeared  fire-sides;  together  Avith  their  pots  nitd 
kettles,  sjjoons,  and  other  culinary  articles  of  their  own 
•Manufacture,  around  them;  {)resent,  altogether,  one  of  tlic 
most  i)icturesquo  scenes  to  the  eye  of  a  stranger  that  eaii 
be  j)ossibly  seen;  and  far  more  wild  and  vivid  than  could 
ever  be  imagined." 

If  the  sight  within  the  dwellings  was  novel  and  sti'ikiuL'. 
much  more  so  was  that  w,hich  occupied  the  painter's  atten- 
tion as  he  surveyed,  from  the  roof  of  one  of  these  domes, 
the  motley  scene  of  busy  life  without.  In  the  centre  of 
the  village  an  open  court  was  left  for  purj)oses  of  recrea- 
tion ami  for  the  performaiu'cs  of  the  national  religions 
ceremonies.  Upon  the  rounded  I'oofs  of  the  doniicils 
numerous  busy  or  indolent  groups  were  sitting  or  loung- 
ing in  every  possible  attitude,  while  in  the  central  area 
some  were  exercising  their  wild  horses,  or  training  ainl 
])hiying  with  their  dogs.  Such  a  variety  of  brilliant  and 
lanciful  costume,  ornamented  with  jdumes  and  porcupim 
rpxills,  with  the  picturesque  throng  of  Indians  and  animals, 
the  closely  crowded  village,  the  green  plain,  the  river,  and 
the  blue  hills  in  the  distance,  formed  a  happy  subject  for 
the  ai'tist. 

AV'ithout  the  picket  of  defence,  the  only  objects  visibio, 


.;.,  ,>-.'^":v.^;:.)-: 


accoutrcnienta 


^  objects  visible, 


TIllUKS  WKST  OK  TIIK  MISSISSII'I'I. 


441 


of  man's  constnictioii,  woro  the  sciinuldiii/j^.s  upon  wliich 
the  ilciul  wero  exposed,  'i'lie  niaiiiier  in  which  the  funeral 
rites  of  the  Mandan.s  were  eomhuitcd,  with  llie  subseipient 
details,  constitutes  the  most  touching  portion  of  tlu^  au- 
thor's narrative.  Tho  body  of  the  dead  pei-son  was  ti;^ditl_v 
wrapp'.'d  and  bouiul  up  in  fresh  or  soaked  l)ullal(j  sUins, 
together  with  the  arms  and  accoutrements  used  in  life,  and 
tho  usual  ])rovision  of  tobacco,  (lint  and  steel,  knift>,  and 
food.  A  slight  scalfold  is  then  prepared,  of  siillicieiit 
height  to  serve  as  prot{!(;tion  i'rom  the  wolves  and  tlogs, 
and  there  the  body  is  deposited  to  decay  in  the  open  air. 

Day  after  day  those  who  had  lost  friends  would  come 
out  from  the  village  to  this  strange  cemetery,  to  weep  and 
hcwail  over  their  loss.  Sut-li  genuine  and  h)ng-.'ontiuued 
grief  as  was  exhibited  by  the  alUicted  relatives  puts  to 
shame  the  cold-heartedness  of  too  many  among  the  cidti- 
vatcd  and  eidightencd.  When,  after  the  lapse  of  years, 
the  scall'olds  had  fallen,  and  nothing  was  left  but  bleached 
and  nu)\ildering  bones,  the  remains  wen;  buried,  with  the 
cxci'ption  of  the  skidls.  These  were  placed  in  circles  up(Ui 
tlu!  plain,  with  the  faces  turned  inward,  each  resting 
upon  a  bunch  of  wild  sage;  and  in  the  centre,  u])on  two 
slight  mounds,  "niedicine-))oles"  were  erected,  at  the  foot 
of  which  were  the  heads  and  horns  of  a  male  and  a  female 
huft'alo.  To  these  new  i)laces  of  deposit,  each  of  which 
contained  not  lar  I'rom  one  hundred  skulls,  "do  these 
people,"  says  Catlin,  "again  resort,  to  evince  their  further 
aflection  foi-  the  dead — not  in  groans  and  lamentations, 
however,  for  several  years  have  cured  the  anguish ;  l)ut 
fond  alfections  and  endearments  are  here  renewed,  and 
conversations  are  here  held,  and  cherished,  with  the  dead." 

The  wife  or  mother  would  sit  for  hours  by  the  side  of 
the  white  relic  of  the  loved  and  lost,  addressing  tho  skull 
with  the  most  aft'ectionate  and  loving  tones,  or,  perchance 
lying  down  and  falling  asleep  with  her  arms  around  it. 


'.  'If .  i '  \ 


1  '     '     '', 

■f     '■  ':■ 

1       ■  ' 

1     J 

>:'       t 


*  ■  >  I 
' '  '  I 


'  4 


'■> . 


,(•-.■ .. 


•,     I 


li:    '•" 


rM'. 


'  1.'.    )■''■'>■ 


<'  '■'{ 


P'i'   ■    '■■: 


♦  .I-.,- 


4-i2 


INDIAN   KACES  OF  AMEUICA. 


Food  would  be  niglitly  set  before  many  of  these  skulls, 
and,  with  the  most  tender  care,  the  aromatic  bed  npou 
which  they  reposed  would  be  renewed  as  it  withered  and 
decayed. 


CHAPTER  II. 

PrKSONAI-  APPEARANCE  AND  PECULIARITIES  OF  THE  MANDANS— 

THEIR    IIOSPITAUTY     AND     URnAMTV THEIR     CLEANLINESS 

OF  PERSON THEIR  DRESS POUTHAITS  OF  MANDAN  THIEFS 

CONTRAST  liETWEEN  THE  WILD  TIUBES  AND  THOSE  OF 

THE  FRONTIER MANDAN   DOMESTIC  USAHES GAMES 

AND  DANCES— TRA  INING  OF  THE  YOUTH— THE  GREAT 

ANNUAL   RELIGIOUS  CEREMONY THE   MANUANS 

SUPPOSED    TO    BE    OF    WELSH  DESCENT 

ANNIHILATION    OF    THE    TRIBE 
BY  THE    SJIALL-POX. 

Unlike  the  other  Indian  tribes  of  the  west,  the  ^-n- 
dans,  instead  of  presenting  a  perfect  nniforniity  in  com- 
plexion, and  in  the  color  of  the  eyes  and  hair,  exhibited  as 
great  diversity  in  these  respects  as  will  be  noticed  in  a 
mixed  population  of  Knropeans.  Their  hair  was,  for  the 
most  i)art,  very  fine  and  soft,  but  in  a  number  of  instances 
a  strange  anomaly  was  observable,  both  in  ohl  and  young, 
and  in  either  sex,  viz:  a  profusion  of  coarse  locks  of  "a 
bri'dit  silvery  gray,"  approaching  sometimes  to  white. 

Some  of  the  wuuumi  were  quite  fair,  with  blue  eyes,  and 
the  most  symmetrical  features,  combined  with  a  very  at- 
tractive and  agreeable  exi)ression.  It  does  not  appear 
probable  that  sunicieut  intermixture  with  European  races 
had  ever  taken  place  to  account  for  thes(>  peculiarities,  and 
some  authors  appear  quite  convinced  that  these  Mandans 
arc  the  remains  of  a  great  people,  entirely  distinct  from  tlio 


Jt><».^ 


'  :'■■■€  I 


1 1- ,' 


fr 


TUIJIKS  WEST  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI. 


443 


nutions  around  tliem.  Of  Mr.  Catlin's  researches  and  con- 
clusions respecting  their  oi'igin,  wc  shall  take  occasion  to 
^)^\\k  hereafter. 

In  their  disposition,  the  ^Nfandans  were  hospital)le  and 
friendly;  affectionate  and  kind  in  their  treatment  of  each 
other;  and  mindful  of  the  convenience  and  comfort  of  the 
stranger.  Their  figures  were  beautifully  jn-oportioned,  and 
their  movements  and  attitudes  graceful  and  easy.  Instead 
of  the  closely-shorn  locks  of  some  other  races,  they  wore 
their  hair  long.  The  men  were  jjarticularly  proud  of  this 
a}'pendage,  and  wore  at  no  small  pains  to  arrange  it  in 
what  the}  esteemed  a  becoming  manner.  It  was  thrown 
hackward  from  the  forehead,  and  divided  into  a  mnnbcr 
of  ]ihilts.  I'liese  were  kept  in  their  position  by  glue  and 
some  red-tinted  earth,  with  which  they  were  matted  at 
intervals.  The  womiMi  oih'd  and  braided  their  hair,  i)art- 
iiig  it  in  the  middle;  the  place  of  parting  was  universally 
painted  red. 

A  greater  degree  of  cleanliness  was  observable  in  their 
persons  than  is  connnon  among  savages.  A  particular 
location  was  assigned,  at  some  distance  from  the  village^ 
uj)  the  river,  where  the  women  could  resort  nndisturl)ed 
for  their  morning  ablutions.  A  guard  was  stationed,  at 
intervals,  u[)on  a  suri-ounding  circle  of  rising  ground,  io 
jircveut  intrusion.  Tliose  of  both  sexes  and  all  ag(>s  were 
excellent  swimmers;  scarcely  was  one  to  be  found  who 
could  not  with  ease  cross  the  Missouri  in  this  manner. 
Their  only  boats  were  round  tubs  made  by  stretching  buf- 
falo-skins over  a  light  frame-work.  The  form  and  ea])acity 
of  these  clumsy  water-craft,  were  strikingly  similar  to  that 
of  the  coracles  used  in  Wales  and  upon  other  portions  of 
the  coast  of  Great  Britain. 

As  an  additional  means  of  luxury,  and  as  an  efTicient 
remedy  in  case  of  sickness,  a  hnt  was  devoted  to  the  pui-- 
posc  of  a  steam-bath.     This  was  efTected  by  jtouring  water 


■'^:-^ 


i.   :  '  '  ' 


■u  ':.. 


■'f./ 


lt'-"">'-'.f.--  i  .:■  I 


%:li. 


<w, 


444 


INDIAN   KACES  OF  AMEJilCA. 


upon  licatcd  stones,  over  wLicli  tlie  patient  -was  placed, 
■wrajiped  in  buffido-robcs,  in  a  wicker-basket.  Tlic  ojiera- 
tion  was  always  followed  up  by  a  plunge  into  the  river, 
and  a  subsetpient  rubbing  and  oiling  of  the  body.  Such 
a  mode  of  treatment  produced  terrible  effects,  in  after  times, 
when  the  small-pox  spread  through  the  tribe. 

The  dress  of  the  Mandan  warriors,  although  in  its  gen- 
eral fashion  similar  to  that  of  the  neighboring  tribes,  M-as 
singularly  rich  and  elaborate.  It  was  formed  entirely  of 
skins:  a  coat  or  hunting-shirt  of  buck-skin;  Icggins  and 
moccasins  of  the  same  material,  beautifully  fringed,  and 
cml)roidered  with  porcupine  quills;  and  an  outer  mantle 
of  the  fur  of  a  young  buffalo,  formed  the  prinei])al  equi))- 
mcnt.  The  covering  for  the  head  was  more  elaborate,  and 
was  constructed,  by  all  who  could  obtain  the  materials,  of 
ermine  skins,  and  feathers  of  the  war-eagle.  So  high  a 
value  was  set  upon  these  head-dresses,  that  Mr.  Catlin,  after 
having  bargained  for  the  entire  suit  of  a  chief,  whose  ])or- 
trait  he  had  just  painted,  was  oblig(;d  to  give  two  horsi's, 
of  the  value  of  twenty-five  dollar's  each,  for  the  crowning 
ornament.  Some  few  chiefs  had  attained  a  height  of  au- 
thority and  renown  whicli  entitled  them  to  add  to  llicir 
head-dress  a  pair  of  buffalo-horns,  reduced  in  size  and 
weight,  and  arranged  as  they  grew  upon  the  animal.  Tlie 
custoni  was  not  conlined  to  the  Mandans,  but  a  similar 
ornament  is  widely  considered  as  symbolic  of  power  and 
warlike  achievements  among  the  western  Indians. 

Nothing  could  exceed  the  pride  and  delight  of  the  chiefs 
of  the  tribe,  after  their  first  apprehensions  at  the  novc1t\' 
of  the  proceeding  were  allayed,  at  the  sight  of  their  own 
])ortraits,  for  which  they  were  induced  to  sit  by  our  author. 
lie  was  constituted  and  proclaimed  from  fhe  nionn'iit  of 
the  first  exhibition,  a  "great  medicine-man,"  and  old  nnd 
young  thronged  to  see  and  to  touch  the  worker  of  siuli  a 
miracle.     All  declared  that  the  pictures  were,  at  least  par- 


TRIBES  WEST  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI. 


445 


tially,  alive :  for  from  whatsoever  side  they  were  beheld, 
still  the  eyes  were  seen  fixed  upon  the  beholder.  An  idea 
was  started,  and  obtained  a  temporary  eredence,  that  some 
portion  of  the  life  of  the  person  represented  must  have 
been  abstracted  by  the  painter,  and  that  consequently  his 
term  of  existence  must  be  shortened.  It  was  moreover 
feared  lest,  by  the  picture's  living  after  the  death  of  the 
original,  the  quiet  rest  of  the  grave  should  he  troubled. 

By  a  most  ingenious  and  judicious  policy  in  adojjting  a 
mode  of  explanation,  suited  to  the  capacity  of  his  hearers, 
and  by  wisely  ingratiating  himself  with  the  chiefs  and 
medicine-men,  Mr.  Catlin  succeeded  in  stilling  the  commo- 
tion excited  by  such  suggestions  and  suspicions.  He  was 
held  in  high  estimation,  and  feasted  by  the  principal  men 
of  the  tribe,  whose  portraits  he  obtained  for  his  invaluable 
collection. 

It  is  only  among  such  remote  tribes  as  the  one  which 
forms  the  subject  of  our  present  consideration,  that  any 
adequate  idea  can  be  forme(l  of  the  true  Indian  character. 
The  gluttony,  drunkenness,  surliness,  and  "shiftlessness" 
of  the  degraded  race,  that  has  caught  the  vices  of  the 
white  men,  witliout  aiming  at  his  civilization,  are  strongly 
contrasted  with  the  abstemiousness,  self-respect,  and  native 
dignity  of  the  uncontaminated.  "Amongst  the  wild  In- 
dians in  this  country,"  sa^^s  Catlin,  "there  are  no  beggars — 
no  drunkards — and  every  man,  from  a  beautiful  natural 
precept,  studies  to  keep  his  body  and  mind  in  such  a 
healtliy  shape  and  condition  as  will  at  all  times  enable 
hini  to  use  his  wea}ions  in  self-defence,  or  struggle  for  the 
prize  in  their  manly  games." 

The  usual  custom  of  polygamy  was  universally  practiced 
among  the  Mandans,  by  all  whose  rank,  jiositiovi  and 
means  enabled  them  to  make  the  necessary  arrangements, 
and  pay  the  stipulated  price  for  their  wives.  The  girls 
were  generally  sold  by  their  parents  at  a  very  early  age, 


Mm 


*.f 


f:''i'Vi 


■t  -  ■ 


r<:iM 


It 


:  ,.';»ip,...-.. 

■i  -■  1,1.  hA.\'' 

'..;■■■•'.•;;  i'siiij 


440 


IN  I)]  AX  KACKS  OF  A5IERICA. 


}'■■■*■■: 


and,  as  among  most  barbarous  nations,  their  fato  was  a  life 
of  toil  and  (b'udgcry.  Their  time  must  bo  ahnost  con- 
stantly einiiloy(Hl  in  getting  fuel,  evdtivatiug  coi'ii  and 
S(|uashes,  preparing  ]H'nnniean  and  other  dried  stores  Coi' 
■winter,  and  in  dressing  and  end)roidering  the  bulValo-rolM's 
which  their  lord  and  master  accumulated  for  trade  with  the 
whites. 

Notwithstanding  this  ap[)arcntly  degraded  position,  ww 
are  inllirnied  that,  the  women  were  seemingly  ciMitenled 
with  .heir  lot,  that  they  were  modest  in  their  de])ortnient, 
and  that  "amongst  the  respectable  familic^s,  virtue"  was 
"as  highly  ehei'ished,  and  as  inapproachable  as  in  any 
society  whatever." 

AVhite  tradei's  among  the  extreme  western  tribes  arc 
said  to  be  almost  universally  in  the  custom,  from  inutives 
of  policy,  and  perhaps  from  inclination,  of  allying  them- 
selves to  one,  :tt  least,  of  the  prinei})al  chiefs,  by  a  tt'nipo- 
rary  espousa.l  of  his  daughter.  In  many  instances  tlxy 
indulge  in  a  jdurality.  This  is  a  position  greatly  sought 
after  by  the  young  wouumi,  as  they  arc  enabled  by  it  to 
indvdge  their  mitive  fondness  for  display,  and  are  freed 
fj'(jni  the  toil  usually  incident  tcj  their  existence. 

The  men  and  b(J3'S,  heading  a  life  of  ease,  cxcejit  when 
engaged  u])Ou  a  liunt,  praeti',,'ed  a  great  variety  of  ganics 
and  athletic  sports,  some  of  them  very  curious  and  ori- 
ginal. Ilorse-rai'ing,  ball-phiying,  archery,  &c.,  never  failnl 
to  excite  and  delight  them.  An  endless  variety  of  dances, 
wdth  vocal  and  instrumental  accom])a;iiments,  sei'ved  for 
recreation  and  religious  'M'cniorials.  Kvery  wo.'d  ami 
step  had  some  jtarticular  and  occult  signification,  for  the 
most  })art  known  only  to  those  initiated  in  the  mysteries 
of  "inedicine." 

In  tines  of  scarcity,  when  the  buflalo  herds  had  wan- 
(hM'ed  away  from  the  vicinity,  so  far  that  the  hunters  dared 
not  pursue  them,  for  fear  of  enemies,  the  "bulfalo  dance" 


*     '■-!;' 


TRUiES  WEST  OF  THE  Mlf^SISSIl'PI. 


447 


was  ]iorf()naccl  in  the  central  court  of  the  village.  Every 
man  of  the  tril)c  possessed  a  mask  made  from  the  skin 
uf  a  bull'alo's  head,  including  the  horns,  and  dried  as  nearly 
as  possible  in  the  natural  shape,  to  be  worn  on  these  occa- 
sions. When  the  wise  men  of  the  iiatiou  determined  upon 
their  invocations  to  attract  the  butlalo  herds,  Avatchers  were 
stationed  upon  the  eminences  surrounding  the  village,  and 
the  dance  commenced.  With  extravagant  action,  and 
strange  ejaculations,  the  crowd  performed  the  prescribed 
maiioouvres:  as  fast  as  those  engaged  became  weary,  they 
would  signify  it  by  crouching  down,  wdicn  those  witliout 
the  circle  would  go  through  the  pantomime  of  severally 
shooting,  flaying,  and  dressing  them,  while  ncAV  jjerform- 
crs  took  their  place.  Niglii  and  day  the  mad  scene  was 
kej^t  up,  sometimes  for  weeks  together!  until  the  signal 
was  given  of  the  ap[)roach  of  bulfalo,  when  all  prepared 
with  joy  and  hilai'ity  for  a  grand  hunt,  fully  convinced 
that  tlieir  own  exertions  had  secured  the  prize. 

No  less  singular  was  the  ceremonial  resorted  to  whert 
the  crojis  were  suflering  for  want  of  rain.  A  knot  of  the 
wisest  medicine-men  would  collect  in  a  hut,  where  they 
held  their  session  \vith  closed  doors,  burning  aromatic  herbs 
and  going  through  with  an  unknown  series  of  incanta- 
tions. Some  tyro  was  then  sent  up  to  take  his  stand  on 
tlie  roof,  in  sight  of  the  people,  and  spend  the  day  in  invo- 
cations for  a  shower.  If  the  sky  continued  clear,  he  re- 
tired in  disgrace,  as  one  who  need  not  hope  ever  to  arrive 
at  the  dignity  of  a  medicmc-man.  Day  after  day  the  per- 
forniance  continued,  until  a  cloud  overspread  the  skies, 
when  the  young  Indian  on  the  lodge  discharged  an  nn-ow 
t(nvards  it,  to  let  out  the  rain.  From  their  earliest  youth, 
the  boys  were  trained  to  the  mimic  exercises  of  war  and 
the  chase.  It  was  a  beautiful  sight  to  witness  tiie  s})irit 
with  which  they  would  enact  a  sham  light  u})ou  the  open 
prairie.     A  tuft  of  grass  supplied  the  place  of  the  scalp- 


I       -u 


.:V-,:'J:i  \ 


*    '■■;■'  "is 


118 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AllEHICA. 


luck,  ami  l)luut  arrows  of  j^niss  or  reeds,  willi  womlcn 
st'al|iing-kiiivc's,  iorincil  llK-ir  innocuous  weapons.  "  If  anv 
one,"  says  Catlin,  "is  struck  witli  an  arrow  on  any  vital 
jiart  of  liis  Lody,  he  is  obliged  to  I'all,  and  liis  adversary 
rushes  up  to  him,  places  his  loot  ujujn  him,  and  snateliing 
from  his  belt  his  wooden  knife,  grasjis  hold  ol'  his  victim's 
hcaIpd(K'k  of  grass,  and  niaking  a  leint  at  it  with  his  wooden 
kuile,  snatches  it  oil"  and  puts  it  into  his  belt,  and  cnttMs 
again  into  the  ranks  and  front  of  battle." 

This  was  the  true  mode  of  I'orming  warriors.  Tlie  yontli 
grew  to  maidiood  with  the  one  idea  tliat  true  dignity  and 
glory  awaited  him  alone  who  couhl  fringe  his  garmcat.s 
with  the  scalps  of  his  enemies.  Some  of  the  Mandan 
braves,  even  of  their  last  generation,  performe<l  feats  of 
daring,  and  engaged  in  chivalrous  combats,  which  will 
idmost  com])arc  with  the  deeds  of  Piskaret  or  lliadconi  in 
the  early  history  of  the  Iroquois. 

At  the  risk  of  seeming  to  linger  too  long  over  the  histmT 
and  customs  of  a  single  tribe,  few  in  number:',  and  miw 
extinct,  we  will  give  some  descri})tion  of  the  strange  reli- 
gious ceremony  which  oecu})ied  lour  days  of  each  I'ctnrninu- 
year.  The  religions  belief  of  the  Mandans  was,  in  liic 
main,  not  unlike  that  of  most  North  American  aborigines, 
liut  sonic  of  their  self-torturing  mo(li\s  of  adoration  ami 
propitiation  of  their  deity  wei'c  pt.'rfcetly  uni((ue.  Tlio 
grand  iljur  days'  ceremony  had,  accoi'ding  to  Catlin,  llirec 
distinct  objects;  a  festival  of  thanksgiving  for  tlu>  cseapr 
oi\  their  ancestors  from  the  Hood!  of  wlTu'li  tliev  liad  ;i 
distinct  tradition,  strikingly  conl()rmabIe  to  scriptural 
history;  for  the  grand  "  bull-dance,"  to  draw  the  liullliL 
herds  towards  the  settlement;  and  to  initiate;  tin)  vouiii; 
men,  by  terrible  trials  and  tortures,  into  the  order  of  war- 
riors, and  to  allow  those  whose  fortitud(>  had  been  fullv 
tested  to  give  renewed  proofs  of  their  capacity  of  endur- 
ance, and  their  claim  to  the  position  of  chiefs  and  leaders. 


;,  witli  wooden 
i^ious.  "  ir  any  ,. 
»\v  on  any  vital  ;, 
\  his  adversary  [ 
1,  and  snatfliiuu' 
il  (if  his  victim's 
with  liis  wooden  ' 
beU,  and  enters 

ors.  'riie  yonth 
true  dii:)iity  and 
("•0,  his  <;arnieiit.s 
,,f  llie  .\hi)id;ia 
■  rt'tiruied  I'eats  d 
d)ats,  whieh  will 
it  or  Hiadetmi  in 

r  over  the  liist^ry 

iiuhi'r:",  and  nnw 

'  the  strangle  reli- 

il'eaeli  returning' 

;nis  was,   in   tlu' 

ic;in  ah(ii'i,2ines, 

f  adoration  ami 


V   unniue. 


Th 


o-  to  Catlin,  tlmr 
\\<S  I'or  the  escain' 
ITk-Ii  they  had  ;i 
lU'  to  scriptunil 
draw  the  hutVal.i 
nitiati!  the,  yoiniii 
the  ord(M'  o['  war- 
had  heen  fullv 
apaeity  (»!'  endm- 
•,hiels  antl  leader.-. 


S'^     A 


.#^ 


^  K  r 


m 


•A.k 


/A'/>/./»JV     irjl 


R-tJjt^rcn. 


it 
til 


E« 


I 


ir  >M 


H'M 


KMi 


f,'.: 


■i  ■;  ■■M^' 


TIUUES  WEST  vy  THE  MISSISSIPPI. 


•Lid 


The  jieriod  for  the  coroniony  was  that  in  whii-h  tlio 
leaves  tif  the  willow  on  the  river  bank  were  first  fully 
ojiened;  "for,  aeconlinj^  to  their  tradition,"  says  Catlin, 
'"the  twig  that  l/ic  bird  browjJil  hoinr  was  a  willow  bough, 
and  had  full  grown  leaves  upon  it,'  and  the  bird  to 
whieh  they  allude  is  the  inourni'ig  or  turtle-dove,  which 
thoy  took  great  pains  to  point  out  to  me,"  as  a  iai'<li- 
cine-hird.  The  first  performances  l)ore  reference  to  the 
deluge,  in  commemoration  of  whieh  a  sort  of  "curb  or 
hogshead"  stood  in  the  centre  of  the  village  court,  sym- 
bolical of  the  "big  canoe,"  in  which  the  human  race  was 
preserved. 

Jo  intimation  was  given  by  the  wise  men,  under  whose 
secret  management  the  whole  allair  was  conducted,  of  the 
precise  day  when  the  grand  celebration  should  conunence; 
hut  at  sunrise,  one  morning,  ^fr.  Catlin  and  his  white  com- 
panions were  aroused  by  a  terrible  tumult  throughout  the 
village.  All  seemed  to  be  in  a  state  of  the  greatest  ex- 
citement and  alarm,  the  cause  of  which  was  unexplaiiuible, 
as  the  object  at  which  all  were  ga/.ing  was  a  single  figure 
approaching  the  village,  from  a  bluff,  about  a  mile  distant. 
This  personage  i>oon  entered  within  the  inclosed  space  of 
the  town:  he  was  painted  with  Avhite  clay,  and  carried  a 
large  ])ipe  in  his  hand.  lie  was  saluted  by  the  })rincipal 
men  of  the  tribe  as  "Nu-mohk-muck-a-nah  (the  first  or 
only  man," — in  fact,  none  other  than  Noah  himself) — who 
had  come  to  open  the  great  lodge  reserved  exclusively  for 
the  ainiual  religious  rites. 

Having  supierinteuded  the  prci)arati(m  of  the  medicine- 
house,  and  'caving  men  busy  in  adorning  it  with  willow 
boughs  and  sage,  and  in  the  arrangement  of  divers  akulls, 
both  of  men  and  bull'aloes,  which  were  essential  in  the 
coming  mysteries,  Nu-mohk-muck-a-nah  made  the  rounds 
of  the  village,  repeating  before  every  lodge  the  tale  of  the 
great  deluge,  and  telling  how  he  alone  had  been  saved  in 
29 


■■■II 


..I,.  ^1 


ioO 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMEllIOA. 


his  ark,  and  left  b}'  the  retiring  waters  upon  the  summit 
of  II  western  mountain! 

At  every  Init  he  was  presented  with  some  eutting  instru- 
ment, (sueh  as  was  su])poscd  to  have  been  used  in  tlio 
eonstruction  of  the  ark,)  to  be  thrown  into  the  river  as  a 
sacrifice  to  the  waters. 

Next  day,  liaving  ushered  tlie  young  men  who  were  to 
go  through  the  fearful  ordeal  of  self-iullieted  torture  into 
the  sacred  lodge,  and  appointed  an  old  medicine-man  to  the 
oflice  oi  "0-kee-])ah  Ka-se-kah,  (keeper  or  conductor  of 
the  ceremonies,")  he  took  up  his  march  into  the  prairie, 
promising  to  aj)pear  again  on  the  return  of  the  season  in 
the  ensuing  year. 

The  young  warriors,  preparatory  to  undergoing  the  tor- 
ture, were  obliged,  until  the  fourth  day  from  their  entry 
into  the  lodge,  to  abstain  from  food,  drink,  or  sleep! — 
Meanwhile,  various  strange  scenes  were  enacted  in  the  cen- 
tral area  before  the  house.  The  gi-and  buffalo-dance,  a 
l)crforinance  combining  every  thing  conceivable  of  the  gio- 
tcscpie  and  extravagant,  was  solemnly  pcrfurined  to  insure 
a  f'avoi-able  season  for  the  chase. 

On  the  fourth  day  commenced  the  more  horrdjle  portion 
of  the  exercises.  Mr.  Catlin,  as  a  great  medicine-man,  was 
admitted  within  the  lodge  throughout  the  jierformanccs, 
and  had  full  opportunity  to  j)ortray.  v/ith  pen  and  ])encil, 
tlie  scenes  therein  enacted.  Coming  forward,  in  turn,  tlie 
victims  allowed  the  flesh  of  their  breasts  or  backs  to  be 
pierced  with  a  rough  two-edged  knife,  and  splinters  of 
wood  to  be  thrust  through  the  holes.  Enougji  of  the 
skin  and  flesh  were  taken  up  to  be  more  than  suflicicnt 
for  the  support  of  the  weight  of  the  body.  To  tlicsc 
splints  cords  let  down  from  the  roof  were  attached,  and 
the  subject  of  these  inflictions  was  hoisted  from  tlio 
ground.  Similar  splints  were  then  thrust  through  the 
arms  and  legs,  to  which  the  warrior's  arms,  and,  in  some 


m  tlic  summit 

cutting  iiistru- 
11  used  in  the 
Llic  river  as  a 

n  who  were  to  j 
id  torture  into 
jine-mau  to  the 
:  conductor  of   , 
iito  tlic  prairie, 
■  the  season  in 

ergoing  the  tor- 
oni  their  entry 
uk,  or  sleep!— 
acted  in  the  ccn- 
bnll'alo-dancc,  a 
vuhlcorthegro- 
ormed  to  insure 


lorrdjle  portion 
dieinc-nian,  was 
>  performances, 
pen  and  ptMU'il, 
ird,  in  turn,  tlu; 
or  ■l)aeks  to  1)0 
md  si)linters  of 
]-]iiough  of  the 
V  than  suirieicnt 
)ody.     To  these 
re  attached,  ami 
isted    from  the 
ist   through  the 
ns,  and,  in  some 


TUIBES  AVKST  OF  TUK  MlS.SlSSIl'l'I. 


451 


cases,  as  additional  weiglits,  several  heavy  buffalo  heads, 
were  hung. 

Thus  far  the  fortitude  of  the  Tndiati  suOieed  to  restrain 
all  exhibition  of  pain;  wliile  the  (iesh  was  torn  with  the 
rude  knife,  and  the  wooden  skewers  were  thrust  in,  a 
})leasant  smile  was  frecpiently  observable  on  the  young 
warrior's  countenance;  but  when  in  the  horrible  jiosition 
above  described,  Avith  his  flesh  stretched  by  the  sj)lintstill 
it  appeared  about  to  give  way,  a  nuud)er  of  attendants 
CDminenced  turning  him  round  and  round  with  poles,  he 
would  "burst  out  in  the  most  lamentable  and  heart-rend- 
ing cries  that  the  human  voice  is  capable  of  producing, 
crying  forth  to  the  Great  Spirit  to  support  and  protect 
him  in  this  dreadfid  trial." 

After  hanging  until  total  insensibility  brought  a  tempo- 
rary relief  to  his  suil'erings,  he  was  lowered  to  the  floor, 
the  main  supporting  skewers  were  withdrawn,  and  he  was 
left  to  crawl  off,  dragging  the  weights  after  him.  The 
fu'st  movement,  with  returning  consciousness,  wastosacri- 
lice  to  the  droat  Spii'it  one  or  more  of  the  fmgers  of  the 
left  hand,  after  which  the  miserable  wretch  was  taktni  out 
of  the  lodge.  ^Yithin  the  court  a  new  trial  awaited  him; 
the  last,  but  most  terrible  of  all.  An  active  man  took  his 
})osition  on  each  side  of  the  we.'dc  and  mvitilated  sutfon^r, 
and,  passing  a  thong  about  his  wrist,  urged  him  forward  at 
the  top  of  his  .speed  in  a  circle  round  the  arena.  When, 
faint  and  weary,  he  sank  on  the  ground,  the  tormentoi-s 
dragged  him  furiously  around  the  ring  until  the  splints  were 
torn  out  by  the  weights  attached,  and  he  la\^  motionless  and 
apparently  lifeless.  If  thesjdint  should  have  been  so  dec^ply 
inserted  that  no  force — even  that  of  the  weight  of  inilivid- 
uals  in  the  crowd,  thrown  upon  the  trailing  skulls— could 
break  the  integuments,  nothing  remained  but  to  crawl  off  to 
the  prairie  and  wait  until  it  should  give  way  by  suppuration. 
To  draw  the  skewer  out  would  be  unpardonable  sacrilege. 


; 

r 

^::- 


I  » 


>1  I    ^ 


>         * 

h 

1 

i  v;i 

'•? 

'     '-'  ,^  t 

I 

;5' 

tift 

'*S 

4o2 


INDIAN   HACKS  OF  AMKUICA. 


It  is  told  of  Olio  man  that  he  suspcndiMl  liimsclf  irom 
tlic  prcoipitnus  rivor  Lank  l)}^  two  of  tlicso  skewers,  tlinist 
tliroiip;h  lii.s  amis,  until,  at  the  end  of  several  days!  ho 
dropped  into  the  water,  and  swam  ashore,  'rhroiij^hout 
the  whole  ordeal,  the  ehiefs  and  sa^es  of  the  tribe  critieally 
observed  the  comparative  fortitude  and  enduranec  of  the 
candidates,  and  formed  their  conclusions  thereupon  us  to 
which  would  be  the  worthiest  to  command  in  after  time. 

With  all  these  frightful  and  hideous  si;.!;hts  before  his 
eyes,  or  fresh  in  his  recollecti(ni,  our  author  still  maintains, 
and  apparently  ujton  good  grounds,  and  in  honest  sin- 
cerity, his  former  euloginm  upon  the  virtues  and  nat- 
ural, noble  endowments  of  these  singular  pcojilc.  We 
have  given,  above,  but  a  brief  outline  of  the  myslv-rious 
conjurations  attendant  upon  the  great  annual  festival: 
many  of  these  lack  interest  from  our  ignorance  of  their 
signification. 

A  favorite  theme  for  theorists,  ever  since  the  early  ages 
of  American  colonizati  ni,  has  been  found  in  the  endeav- 
or to  trace  a  descent  1  •'  tho  followers  of  the  Welsh 
voyager.  Prince  Mad(  c,  to  sundry  Indian  tribes  of  the 
west.  Vague  accounts  of  Indians  of  light  comjilexioii, 
wlio  could  speak  and  understand  the  W^t'lsh  language,  ai'o 
given  by  various  early  writers.  They  were  genei'ally  lo- 
cated by  the  narrator  in  some  indeterminate  region  west 
of  the  Mississip[)i,  at  a  considerable  distance  above  New 
Orleans,  but  no  where  near  the  Missouri. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  these  ancient  accounts  are  so 
loose  and  uncertain,  as  there  can  be  no  doubt  but  that  tliev 
are  founded  upon  striking  and  impoi'tant  factts.  A  list  of 
Mandan  words,  compared  with  Welsh  of  the  same  signi- 
fication, has  been  made  public  by  Mr.  Catlin,  in  which  the 
resemblance  is  so  clear,  that  almost  any  theory  would  he 
more  credible  than  that  such  affinity  was  accidental.  'I'his 
author  traced  remains  of  the  peculiar  villages  of  the  Man- 


TUllJKS  WKST  OF  TIIK  iMlASIHHU'l'I. 


453 


dans  np.irly  to  tlio  moutli  of  tlio  Missouri,  ami  Jc'soril)C9 
otluTS  ol'siiiiihir  cliiirachM'  to  the  iiorlliwui'il  of  Cinciiiniiti. 
lit'  sujiiioscs  tiiat  till'  lulvi'iiturcrs,  wliosaili'tl  from  Wiik'S 
ill  till'  vt'ar  1170,  and  wore  iicviT  tlu'iici't'ortii  lu'ai'il  IVom, 
alU'i'  laiidiii^  at  MoriiJa,  <>r  near  tlic  iiKHitli  oC  I'lr  Missis- 
Hipjji,  iiukK;  tlu'ir  way  to  Ojiio;  tliat  tlicy  tlu'i'i;  Ix'caiuo 
iiivolvi'd  ill  iiostilitii's  witli  tlic  natives,  and  woiv  event ually 
all  (!Ut  oil",  witli  tlie  exception  of  tlie  lialfdji'oeds  who  had 
spruiii,'  up  J'l'oiu  eoiiiH'etion  with  the  women  of  tlie  eniiu- 
fry;  tliat  those  lialfd)roeds  liad  at  one  tiiiu;  lbrnu'(l  a  pow- 
riiul  trihe,  but  hud  gradually  been  reduced  to  those  wlinni 
we  have  deseribed,  and  liad  rcnrnved  or  been  driven  fur- 
ther and  farther  u[)  the  Missouri.  The  ari;uinents  upon 
which  this  hypothesis  is  based  are  drawn  from  a  careful 
cxaniinatiiiii  of  ancient  western  fortifications;  from  Jihys- 
ical  [icciiliarities  and  the  anal<)gies  in  language  ubovo  re- 
ferred to;  from  certain  arts  of  working  in  jiottery,  &e.; 
and  fri>in  the  remarkable  and  isolated  jiosition  occupied  by 
tlu^  tribe  ill  (piestion  among  liostile  nations  of  indubitable 
aboriginal  characteristics.  The  theory  is,  to  say  the  least, 
plausible,  and  ably  supported. 

In  the  suniiner  of  1838,  the  stnall-pox  was  communi- 
cated to  the  Mandans  from  some  infected  persona  on  board 
one  of  the  steamers  bi'longing  to  a  company  of  fur-traders. 
So  virulent  was  the  disease,  that  in  n  few  weeks  it  swept 
oil'  the  whole  tribe,  except  a  few  who  fell  into  the  hands 
of  their  enemies,  the  liicarees.  One  principal  reason  for 
the  excessive  mortality  is  said  to  have  been,  that  hostile 
bauds  of  Indians  had  beset  tlie  village,  and  the  inhabit- 
ants were  consi'(iueiitly  unable  to  separate,  or  to  place  the 
iul'ccted  in  an  isolated  ]H)sition. 

The  scene  of  death,  lamentation,  and  terror  is  said  by 
those  who  witnessed  it  to  have  been  frightful  in  the  ex- 
treme. Great  numbers  perished  by  leaping  into  the  river, 
in  tlie  paroxysm  of  fever,  being  too  weak  to  swim  out. 


4 


M:': 


•  vi-;- 


■  ■■»■;•  •■  . 


i  : 


454 


INDIAN  UACES  OF  AMERICA. 


Those  who  died  in  tlie  village  lay  in  heaps  upon  the  floors 
of  the  huts.  Of  the  few  seeured  by  the  liiearees  who  took 
possession  of  the  depopulated  village,  nearly  all  were  said 
to  have  been  killed  during  sonie  subsetjuent  hostilities,  so 
that  now  scarce  a  vestige  of  the  tribe  can  be  supposed  to 
remain. 

The  Mandans  were  probably  all  congregated  at  their 
principal  village  at  the  time  of  the  great  calamity:  the 
other  village  was  situated  two  miles  below,  was  a  small 
settlement,  and  was  used,  as  we  are  led  to  infer,  merely  for 
a  temporary  ^^sumvier  residence  for  a  few  of  the  noted 
families." 

^[r.  Catlin  adds  the  following  items  to  his  account  of  the 
annihilation  of  this  interesting  tribe:  "There  is  yet  a  mel- 
ancholy part  of  the  tale  to  be  told,  relating  to  the  ravages 
of  this  frightful  disease  in  that  country  on  the  same  occa- 
sion, as  it  spread  to  other  contiguous  tribes,  the  Minatar- 
rccs,  the  Knistencaux,  the  Blackfeet,  the  Chayennes,  ;uiil 
the  Crows;  amongst  whom  twenty-five  thousand  perislanl 
in  the  course  of  four  or  five  months,  which  most  appalling 
facts  I  got  from  Major  Pilcher,  superintendent  of  Indian 
affairs  at  St,  Louis,  from  ]\[r.  McKenzie,  and  others." 


•I  i\ 


TKIBES  WKST  OF  THE  JllSSISSirPI.  455 

CIlArTKIl  III. 

i|      THE    SFOUX  CONTfNUF.n — THKIK     MODK  OK   Lll'li: MATERNAL  AFFEC- 

jl  TION EXrOSUHE  OF  THE  A(iED THE  FAiMOtlS  QUARRY  OF  RED 

PIPE-STONE NATURE  OF  THIS  MATERIAL — INDIAN  SUPERSTI- 

j  TIONS  KESPECTI.Vr;  IT THE  HISON  OR  HUFFALO HORSES  OF 

!|  THE  INDIANS VARIOUS    MODES  OF  HUMTINCt  THE  BUF- 

il  PALO WASTEFUL  DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  HERDS. 


The  Sioux  proper,  known  among  themselves  and  by 
other  Indian  tribes  as  Dahootas,  are  one  of  the  most  ex- 
tensively dillhsed  nations  of  the  west.  From  the  ll})pcr 
Mississip{)i,  where  tliey  mingle  with  the  nortlicrn  raee  of 
Chi})pewas,  to  the  ^fissouri,  and  far  in  the  north-west 
towards  the  country  of  the  Bhaekfeet,  the  tribes  of  this 
fomily  occupy  the  boundless  prairie. 

Tliose  living  on  the  Mississippi  and  St.  Peter's  rely 
])artially,  as  Ave  have  mentioned,  upon  agriculture,  and 
tlieir  proximity  to  tlie  white  settlements  has  changed,  and 
too  often  degraded  their  native  character.  The  more  dis- 
tant tribes,  subsisting  almost  entirel}'  upon  the  flesh  of  the 
buHalo,  clothed  with  skins,  and  using  the  native  weapons 
of  their  race,  still  remain  in  a  state  of  rude  freedom  and 
independ'Mice.  Graphic  descriptions  of  their  wild  life, 
their  skill  and  dexterity  in  the  chase,  and  innumerable 
amusing  and  striking  incidents  of  travel,  and  portraitures 
of  private  and  natural  character,  are  to  be  found  scattered 
through  the  i)a<i;es  of  Catlin's  interesting  narrative. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  and  touching  traits  of  char- 
acter described  by  this  author,  as  observable  among  the 
Sioux,  is  the  strength  of  maternal  affection.  Infant  chil- 
dren, according  to  tlie  common  custom  of  western  Indians, 
are  carried,  for  the  first  six  or  seven  months  of  their  ex 
istonce,  strapjied  immoveably  to  a  board,  the  hands  and 
arms  being  generally  left  at  liberty.     A  hoop  protects  the 


i\  n 


*■■.  '; 


«  ■  f     'I, 


A  li' 


u 


'   ',  1^1 


,'l,v   ■  (■■. 


■\:-^^ 


ir    :.' 


b>.m. 


{■-:;>. i.r 


1  •  '•:|  :^ 


456 


IXDIAN   RACES  OF  AMEllT'JA. 


child's  Dice  from  injur}'  in  case  of  a  fall,  and  the  whole 
a})paratus  is  often  highly  ornanacnted  with  fringe  and  em- 
broidery.  This  paek  or  cradle  is  ])rovided  with  a  broad 
band,  which  is  passed  round  the  forehead  of  the  mother, 
sustaining  the  weight  of  the  child  pendant  at  her  l)ack. 
Those  who  have  been  most  familiar  with  this  mode  of 
treatment  generally  a})prove  of  it  as  best  suited  to  the  life 
led  by  the  Indian,  and  as  in  no  way  cruel  to  the  child. 
After  the  inftmt  has  in  sonic  degree  acquired  the  use  of  its 
lind)s,  it  is  freed  from  these  incumbrances,  and  borne  in  the 
fold  of  the  mother's  blanket. 

"If  the  infant  dies  during  the  time  that  is  allotted  lo  it 
to  be  carried  in  this  cradle,  it  is  buried,  and  the  disconso- 
late mother  fillo  the  cradle  with  black  quills  and  fcathei's, 
in  the  parts  which  the  child's  body  had  occupied,  and  in 
this  way  carries  it  around  with  her  v/herever  she  goes  for 
a  year  or  more,  with  as  much  care  as  if  her  infant  weic 
alive  and  in  it;  and  she  ollen  lays  or  stands  it  against  the 
side  of  the  wigwam,  where  she  is  all  day  engaged  witli 
her  n(!edle-work,  and  chatting  and  talking  to  it  as  famil- 
iarly and  affectionately  ns  if  it  were  her  loved  infant, 
instead  of  its  shell,  that  she  was  talking  to.  So  lasting 
and  so  strong  is  the  aftbction  of  these  women  for  the  lurit 
child,  that  it  matters  not  how  lieavy  or  cruel  their  load,  or 
how  rugged  tlie  route  they  have  to  pass  over,  they  will 
faithfully  carry  this,  and  carefully,  from  day  to  day,  auil 
even  more  strictly  perform  their  duties  to  it,  than  if  tlic 
child  were  alive  and  in  it." — {Ldters  and  Notes  of  (Jcunjc 
CntUn.) 

What  appears,  at  first  glance,  to  be  o)ie  of  the  most 
revolting  and  cruel  customs  of  the  migratory  Sioux  tribes, 
(a  custom  common  to  other  western  nations,)  is  the  exposure 
of  the  old  and  infirm  to  perish,  after  they  have  become 
unable  to  keep  up  with  the  tribe.  We  are  told,  however, 
that  dire  necessity  compels  them  to  this  cinirsc,  unless  they 


TlilBES  WEST  OF  THE  MISSISSIITI. 


457 


would — more  liumanel}',  it  is  true — at  once  put  an  en  J.  to 
the  lives  of  such  unfortunates.  The  old  suH'crer  not  only 
assents  to  the  proceeding,  but  generally  suggests  it,  when 
conscious  that  he  is  too  weak  to  travel,  or  to  be  of  any 
lurther  service  among  his  peo})le.  With  some  slight  pro- 
tection over  him,  aiul  a  little  food  by  his  side,  lie  is  left  to 
(lie,  and  be  devoured  by  the  wolves. 

Certain  tribes  of  this  nation,  far  up  the  Missouri,  are  in 
the  habit  of  performing  various  ceremonies  of  self-torture 
ia  tlieir  religious  exercises,  somewhat  analogous  to  those  of 
the  AEandans,  but  seldom,  if  ever,  are  tliey  carried  to  such 
an  extent  as  we  have  described  in  treating  of  that  tribe. 

In  the  Sioux  country,  at  tlic  southern  extremity  of  the 
high  ridge,  called  the  Coteau  des  Prairies,  which  separates 
the  head-waters  of  the  St.  Peter's  from  the  Missouri,  is 
situated  the  far-famed  quarry  of  red  pipe-stone.  Pipes  of 
this  formation  are  seen  througlunit  tlie  whole  of  the  west, 
"0  other  material  being  considered  suitable.  The  district 
was  formerly  considered  as  a  sort  of  neutral  ground,  where 
hostile  tribes  from  far  and  near  might  harni(.)niously  resort 
to  supply  the  all-essential  want  of  the  Indian.  Those 
versed  in  the  mysteries  of  Indian  heraldry  have  deciphered 
the  distinguishing  marks  and  escutcheons  of  a  q'reat  num- 
her  of  western  nations,  inscribed  ujjou  adjacent  rocks. 
Of  late  years  the  Sioux  have  alfected  a  monopoly  in  the 
products  of  this  quarry,  and  it  was  not  without  the  most 
vehement  t)p])ositiou  that  Mr.  Catlin  and  his  com])anions, 
led  by  curiosity  to  visit  the  remote  and  celebrated  place, 
were  enal)led  to  make  their  way  through  the  Indian  set- 
tlements fallen  in  with  on  the  route. 

Thnjugs  of  dusky  warriors,  at  these  sto])ping-places, 
would  assemble  to  discuss,  with  great  heat  Mud  excitement, 
the  true  motives  of  the  strangers.  '^I'lie  general  impres- 
sion seemed  to  be  that  the  travellers  were  government 
agents,  sent  to  survey  the  locality  for  the  purpose  of  ajipro- 


,■*;  ■   '  ■'.' 


>':  . 

! 

^ m 

* 

n 

I             ,/    ' 

\ 

' 

1 

f. 

1 

! 

■'■•■■■ 

,  i 

'     4 

Vl';,      ' 


IS?' 


458 


INDIAN   KAC'KS  OF  AMERICA. 


*•""  rr:\ 


priation,  and  one  and  all  expressed  a  determination  to 
perish  rather  flian  relinqnish  their  rights  to  this,  their  most 
valued  place  of  resort. 

Tlie  stone  is  obtained  Ly  dijz'ging  to  a  depth  of  several 
f'^ot  in  the  prairie,  at  the  foot  of  a  precipitous  wall  of 
quart:':  rocks.  The  wliolc  geologi(!al  formation  of  that 
distiict  is  described  as  exceedingly  singular,  and  the  pipe- 
stone  formation  is,  itself,  entirely  uni([ue.  This  material 
is  "harder  than  gypsum,  and  softer  tlian  carbonate  of 
lime;"  it  is  asserted  that  a  precisely  similar  formation  has 
been  found  at  no  other  spot  upon  the  globe.  The  coin])o- 
nent  materials,  according  to  the  analysis  of  Mr.  Catlin's 
specimens,  by  Dr.  Jackson,  of  I>oston,  are  as  follows: 
"water,  8,4;  silica,  48,2;  alumina,  28,2;  magnesia,  0,0; 
carbonate  of  lime,  2,6;  peroxide  of  iron,  5,0;  oxide  uf 
manganese,  0,6." 

The  Indians  use  the  stone  only  in  the  manufacture  of 
])ipcs;  to  apply  it  to  an}^  other  use  they  esteem  the  most 
unheard-of  sacrilege.  From  the  aflinity  of  its  color  to 
that  of  their  own  skins  they  draw  some  ftmciful  legend  of 
its  formation,  at  the  time  of  the  great  deluge,  out  of  the 
flesji  of  the  jierishing  red  men.  The}^  esteem  it  one  of  tho 
choicest  gifts  of  the  Great  Spirit. 

The  following  extracts  from  the  sj)eechcs  of  some  Sioux 
chiefs,  through  whose  village  ]\[r.  Catlin  passed  on  his  way 
to  the  (piarry,  may  serve  to  exemplify  the  veneration  v/ith 
which  the  stone  was  regarded. 

"You  see,"  said  one,  (holding  a  red  pipe  to  the  side  of 
his  naked  arm,)  "that  this  pipe  is  a  part  of  our  flesh. 
The  red  men  are  a  part  of  the  red  stone.  ('How,  how!')'' 
an  expression  of  strong  ajiprobation  from  the  auditors. 

"If  the  white  men  take  away  a  piece  of  the  red  })ipe- 
stone,  it  is  a  hole  made  in  our  flesh,  and  the  blood  will 
always  run.  Wo  cannot  stop  the  blood  from  ruiuiiiig. 
('How,  how!')  The  Great  Spirit  has  told  us  that  the  red 


>•/■ 


TRIBP:?  AVEST  of  the  MISSISSIPI'I. 


459 


s  of  sonic  Sioux 

\sscd  on  his  way 

vcuenitiou  with 


stone  is  only  to  be  used  i'ov  pijics,  and  through  them  we 
are  to  smoke  to  him.     ('lluw!')" 

The  next  speaker  jn'onouneed  the  stone  to  be  priceless, 
as  it  was  medicine.  Another,  after  a  preliminary  vaunt  of 
his  own  prowess,  and  worthiness  to  be  listened  to,  pro- 
ceeded: "We  love  to  go  to  the  Pipe-Stone,  and  get  a 
piece  for  our  pipes;  but  we  ask  the  Great  Spirit  first.  If 
the  white  men  go  to  it,  they  will  take  it  out,  and  not  fill 
up  the  holes  again,  and  the  Great  Spirit  will  be  offended. 
('IIow,  lio\v',  how!')" 

Ano(/ier—^^'^\y  friends,  listen  to  me!  wdiat  I  am  to  say 
will  be  truth.  ('How!')  I  bought  a  large  piece  of  the  ]tipe- 
stoiie,  and  gave  it  to  a  wdiite  man  to  make  a  pipe;  he  was 
our  trader,  and  T  wished  him  to  have  a  good  pipe.  The 
next  time  I  went  to  his  store,  I  was  unhappy  when  I  saw- 
that  stone  made  into  a  dish!  ('Eugh!') 

"Tliis  is  the  way  the  white  men  would  use  the  red  pipe 
stone  if  they  conld  get  it.  Such  conduct  would  offend  the 
(ircat  Spirit,  and  make  a  red  man's  heartsick.  ('How, 
how!')" 

Many  of  the  pipes  in  use  among  the  Sioux,  and  formed 
of  this  material,  arc  sha})ed  with  great  labor  and  nicety, 
and  often  in  very  ingenious  figuivs.  Those  intended  for 
calumets  or  pipes  of  jteace,  are  goi'gcously  d(>corated,  but 
even  those  in  ordinary  use  arc  generally  made  as  orna- 
mental as  practicable.  The  cavity  is  drilled  by  means  of 
ahard stick,  with  sand  and  water;  the  outer  form,  with  the 
carvings  and  grotes([ue  iigures,  is  w-orked  with  a  knife. 

Various  narcotic  hci'bs  and  leaves,  whci'c  tobacco  is  not 
to  be  obtained,  are  used  for  smoking,  under  tlie  name  of 
"knick-knick;"  the  same  term  is  used  among  some  &  ath- 
ern  Indians  to  denote  a  mixture  of  tobacco  and  sumach 
leaves. 

In  the  far  west,  both  among  the  Sioux  and  other  wild 
tribes,  as  tlie  hunt  of  the  bull'alo  is  by  lar  the  most  import- 


,  4 : .';  ,■; 


4(50 


INDIAN  HACKS  OF  AIMKHICA. 


ant  occupation  of  tlic  men,  we  will  devote  some  little  !«]iace 
to  a  deserijifion  of  the  habits  of  the  animal,  and  the  native 
modes  of  pursuing  and  destroying  it.  The  huHalo,  or 
bison  of  America,  is  found  at  the  present  day  throughout 
no  simdl  portion  of  the  vast  unsettled  country  between  our 
westei'u  frontier  and  the  Kocky  ^h)untains,  from  the  south- 
ern parts  of  'J  exas  to  the  cold  and  desolate  regions  of  the 
north,  even  to  latitude  lifty-five  degrees.  No  where  are  these 
animals  more  abundjint,  or  in  a  situation  more  congenial 
to  their  inciwise,  and  tlie  development  of  their  powers, 
than  in  uiewi-st-rn  country  of  the  Sioux,  During  certain 
seasons  of  the  yeai,  they  congregate  in  immense  herds,  but 
are  generally  disti-ibutcd  over  the  country  in  snudl  com- 
panics,  wandering  about  in  search  of  the  best  iiasturage. 

They  have  no  certain  routine  of  migration,  although 
those  whose  occuj>ation  leads  to  a  study  of  their  move- 
ments can  in  some  looalitii's  point  out  the  general  couiso 
of  their  trail;  and  this  uncertaintj;  renders  the  mode  el' 
subsistence  dejiended  ujion  by  extensive  western  tribes  of 
Ii.  .:ans  exceedingly  precarious. 

The  most  valuable  possessions  of  these  races,  and  tlic 
mosi  essential  in  the  pursuit  of  the  buifalo,  are  their  horses. 
These  useful  auxiliaries  are  of  the  wild  prairie  breed,  ex- 
tensively spread  over  the  western  territory,  the  desceiulaiits 
of  those  originally  brought  over  by  the  Spaniards  in  tl 
sixteenth  century.  They  are  small,  but  strong  and  hardv. 
and  superior  in  speed  to  any  other  of  the  wild  animals  ol' 
the  prairie.  Numbers  of  them  are  kej^t  about  the  encaiii|i- 
ment  of  the  Indians,  hobbled  so  as  to  prevent  their  strayiii^u' 
away.  Upon  the  open  jtrairic  the  bison  is  generallv  pur- 
sued upon  horseback,  with  the  lance  and  bow  and  arruw. 
The  short  stilf  bow  is  little  calculated  for  accurate  marks- 
manship, or  for  a  distant  shot:  riding  at  full  speed,  th 
Indian  generally  waits  till  lie  has  overtaken  his  pr(>y,  am 
discharges  his  ai-row  from  the  distance  of  a  few  feet. 


le 


10 


J:\-'^- 


r- 


TRIBES  WEST  OF  THE  ^^tlSSISSIPPl. 


4(31 


The  admirable  training  of  the  horse,  to  whom  the  rider 
is  obliged  to  give  loose  rciin  as  lie  a])proaehes  his  objeet 
and  ])re[)ares  to  inlliet  the  deadly  wound,  is  no  less  notiee- 
able  tlian  the  sjjirit  and  energ)'^  of  the  rider. 

Sueh  is  the  Ibree  with  whieh  the  arrow  is  thrown,  that 
re})eated  instances  are  related  of  its  complete  passage 
through  the  huge  body  of  the  buil'alo,  and  its  exit  upon 
the  opposite  side.  This  near  approach  to  the  powerful  and 
infuriated  animal  is  by  no  means  without  danger.  Al- 
though the  liorse,  from  instinctive  fear  of  the  bulTalo's 
lioi'ns,  sheers  olF  immediately  upon  passing  him,  it  is  not 
always  done  with  suflicient  quickness  to  avoid  iiis  stroke. 
The  hunter  is  said  to  be  so  carried  away  by  the  excitement 
and  cxliihiration  of  })ursuit,  as  to  be  ai)parently  ])erfec11y 
rocldcss  of  his  own  safety;  trusting  entii'cly  to  the  sagacity 
and  quickness  of  las  horse  to  take  \\n\\  out  of  the  danger 
into  which  he  is  rushing. 

The  noose,  or  lasso,  used  in  catching  wild  horses,  is 
often  left  trailing  upon  the  ground  during  the  chase,  to 
allbrd  the  hunter  an  easy  means  of  securing  and  remount- 
ing his  horse  in  ease  he  should  be  dismounted,  by  the 
attack  of  the  buffalo  or  otherwise. 

In  the  winter  season  it  is  common  for  the  Indians  of  the 
northern  latitudes  to  drive  the  bufthlo  herds  f.i m  the 
hare  ridges,  where  tliey  collect  to  feed  \\\xm  the  exposed 
hci'bage,  into  the  snow-covered  valleys.  The  unwieldy 
boiists,  as  they  flounder  uirough  the  drifts,  are  easil}'  over- 
takc'i  by  the  hunters,  supjjorted  by  their  snow-shoe.s,  and 
killed  with  the  lance  or  bow.  Another  method,  adopted 
by  the  Indians,  is  to  put  on  the  disguise  of  awhite  wolf-skin, 
and  steal  unsus[)ected  among  the  herd,  where  they  can 
select  their  prey  at  leisure.  Packs  of  wolves  fre([uently 
follow  the  herds,  to  feed  upon  the  carcasses  of  those  that 
j  perish,  or  the  remains  left  by  the  hunters.  Thty  dare  not 
attack  them  in  a  body,  and  are  consequently  no  objects  of 


;3  <: 


1; 


;! 


i  \ 


'  f }  •■ 


ill 


462 


INDIAN  ]{.\l'KS  OF  AMEHTCA. 


terror  to  tlio  l)ufT;il()rs;  but,  slioiild  lui  old  or  wouiulcd  im- 
inuil  bo  sopJH'iitod  from  tlie  coinpaiiy,  tliey  collect  aroiiiid 
liitii,  iiiid  ,ui'adiially  weary  liiiu  out  and  devour  liiiii. 

Wlu'ii  bullalo  are  jiUMily,  and  the  Indians  have  lair  o])- 
portunity,  the  most  astonishing^'  and  wastrl'id  slauj^liter 
ensues.  ])esides  the  ordinary  methods  of  destruction,  the 
custom  of  driving  immense  hei'ds  over  some  ])reeiititouK 
ledge,  where  those  behind  lrami)le  down  and  thrust  over 
the  foremost,  until  hundreds  and  thousands  are  destroved, 
has  been  often  described. 

Kvt'u  at  seasons  in  which  the  fur  is  valueless,  and  little 
besides  u  present  supply  of  Ibod  can  be  obtained  by  de- 
stroying the  animal  which  constitutes  their  sole  resource, 
no  sjiirit  of  forethought  or  jirovidence  resti'ains  the  wild 
hunters  of  tlie  prairie.  Mr.  Catlin,  when  at  the  mouth  of 
Teton  river,  L'ji})er  Missoiii'i,  in  ls;i2,  was  told  that  a  !•.",■'■ 
days  ])i-evious  to  his  arrival,  a  ])ai'ty  of  Sioux  had  retui'iicil 
fn  m  a  hunt,  bringing  fourteen  hundred  buiValo  tongues, 
all  thai  tln^y  had  secured  of  their  booty,  and  that  tln'sc 
were  in\n)e«liately  traded  away  for  a  few  gallons  ol' whiskey. 

This  author  goes,  at  considerable  length,  into  a  calcula- 
tion of  tlie  causes  now  at  wiu'k,  which  must,  in  his  opinion, 
necessarily  result  in  the  entii'e  e.\tincti(jn  of  tl;ese  animals, 
and  the  consequent  destitution  of  the  numerous  ti'ibcs  tliiU 
derive  sui)port  from  then  ])ursuit.  According  to  his  rep- 
resentations, we  "draw  iVom  that  country  one  hundred  and 
iifty  {)V  two  hundred  thousaml  (jf  their  i-obes  annually,  the 
greatei'  part  of  which  are  taken  from  animals  that  arc 
killed  expressly  for  the  robe,  at  ii  season  when  the  meat  is 
not  cured  and  preservi  1  and  for  each  of  which  skins  the 
Indian  has  received  bu.      pint  of  whisktn'! 

Such  is  the  fact,  and  mat  nund)i'r,  or  near  it,  are  annu- 
ally destroyed,  in  adilitidu  to  t'le  nnmljerthat  is  necessarily 
killed  f(jr  the  siibsistenee  of  three  hundred  thousand  In- 
dians, who  live  entirely  upon  them," 


or  wounded  [in- 
'  collect,  nrotuid 
vour  lain, 
lis  liiivc  fiiir  op- 
stoful  slau^liter 
destnu'lioii,  the 
)iiic  ])rcciiiiU)iis 
aiitl  til  rust  over 
Is  arc  destroyed, 

Lielcss,  and  little 

obtained  liy  de- 

;ir  sole  resource, 

.'Strains  the  wild 

at  the  mouth  of 

s  told  that  a  i;-,- 

)U\  had  rotunu'il 

luifalo  t()ii<j;ues, 

:,  and  that  these 

Ions  of  whiskey. 

1,  into  a  caleula- 

t,  ill  his  ojiiuidii, 

f  tlie^ 


St'  auiinals, 


(n'ous  tribes  that 
rdiiiu;  to  liis  rep- 
Diie  hundred  ami 
tes  annually,  the 
iniiaals  that  are 
ItVlieii  tlie  meat  is 
which  skins  the 

ear  it,  aie  aniiii- 

lat  is  necessarily 

ed  thousand  In- 


TiaiJKS  WEST  UF  Till';  .\il:SlSSIl'l'l. 


403 


"When  this  extermination  shall  have  taken  jilaee,  iT  in- 
deed,  it  should  take  ])laee  l>elore  other  causes  shall  have 
annihilated  the  Indian  nations  of  the  west,  it  is  ditlicultto 
conceive  to  what  these  will  resort  for  subsistence.  Will 
tbcy  gradually  ])erish  from  sheer  destitution,  or,  as  has 
been  ])redicted,  will  tliey  be  driven  to  violence  and  plunder 
upon  our  western  frontier? 


CIIAI'TKU  IV. 

r 

INDIANS    OK  Tllli;    (iKKAT  WESTKRN    rHAII{U;s THKIR    SUMMKK   AND 

Wl.NTKR    I.OIXiKS TIIK    MKDICINK-HAG THK  CROWS  AND  BLACK- 

FKKT RACKS    IIOSTILK  TO  TIIK    LATTKR  TRIHK VORTITIIDK  OK 

A   lU.ACKFonT  WARRIOR TIIK  CROW  ClUKK  ARAI'OOISH  AND 

ms  (iUKST INDIAN  CONCKPTIONS  OK  A  I'KRKKCT  COUNTRY 

STORY  OF   LORKTTO  AND  IIIS   INDIAN   WIFK ADVKN- 

TURES  OF  KOSATO,   A   RLACKFOOT  WARRIOR. 

Upon  the  Yellowstone,  and  about  the  head-waters  of 
the  Missouri,  the  most  noted  tribes  are  the  Crows  and 
IHackfeet.  Bordering  upon  them  at  the  north  and  north- 
east, arc  their  enemies,  the  Ojibbewuys,  Knisteneaux,  and 
Assinaboins,  of  some  of  whom  brief  mention  has  be(  n 
made  in  former  chapters.  In  1834  the  Blaekfeet  were 
computed  to  number  over  thirty  thousand,  but  when  the 
small-pox  swept  over  the  western  country,  in  1838,  they 
were  fi-ightfully  reduced.  By  the  returns  of  1850,  they 
were  represented  as  amounting  to  about  thirteen  thousand. 

As  these  Indians  are  auKnig  the  farthest  removed  from 
the  contaminating  influence  of  the  whites,  and  as  the 
})i'airie  abounds  in  all  that  is  reij^usite  for  their  subsistences, 
viz;  horses  and  bulfalo,  they  present  fme  specimens  of  tlu; 
aboriginal  race.     They  are  of  manly  })roportions,  active, 


I,     ■    ^4: 


?.^? 


V 


*t; 


if.  rp''^ Sills;, 


.\:'*.'H 


464 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMKUIC'A. 


niul  capiil)lc  of  groiitcndunuu'c:  their  droj^s  is  particularly 
C(iiii(urtal)le  ami  onuuiiotital,  bodeckcd  witii  all  the  em- 
broidery and  fringes  characteriHtic  of  savage  finery. 

The  style  of  dress,  dwellings,  means  of  subsistence,  kc, 
among  the  Indians  of  the  western  prairies,  is  in  mtiiiy  ro- 
sjiects  so  similar,  that  we  shall  only  a.void  wt'arisuiiic 
repetition  by  omitting  minute  descriptions  in  speaking  of 
the  diiVercnt  tribes. 

The  summer  lodge,  necessarily  made  moveable  to  suit 
their  migratory  habits,  is  a  tent  of  buffalo-skins,  supported 
by  pine  poles  brought  from  the  ilistant  mountains.  Tlieso 
skins  are  neatly  and  sulistantially  stitehed  together,  niul 
often  highly  painted  and  ornamented.  Tluf  tent  is  trans- 
2)orted  by  tying  the  poles  in  two  bundles,  the  small  ends 
of  which,  bound  together,  are  hung  over  the  shoulders  of  ii 
horse,  ^vhile  the  butts  trail  upon  the  ground,  loiiil>,'d  with 
the  weight  of  the  skins  and  other  jtaraphernalia  of  tlio 
lodge.  The  dogs  are  also  jiresscd  intt)  the  same  service, 
and  loaded,  in  much  the  same  maimer,  with  as  large;  a 
load  as  they  can  carry. 

The  cold  winter  is  passed  in  some  spot  protected  by 
high  blnlfs  or  heavy  timber,  either  in  these  skin  lodges, 
or  in  rude  wigwams  of  h)gs. 

It  is  among  these  remote  races  that  we  may  still  sec 
many  of  the  ancient  superstitious  observances  (formerly, 
with  slight  variation,  conunon  to  nearly  the  whole  poim- 
lation  of  the  west,)  retained  with  all  their  original  solem- 
nity. One  of  the  most  singular  and  universal  is  the 
preparation  of  a  "mcdieine-bag,"  which  every  man  carries 
witli  him  upon  all  occasions,  as  being  intricately  involved 
with  his  own  safety  and  success  in  war,  hunting,  or  any  of 
the  occupations  of  life.  At  al)out  the  age  of  puberty  the 
Indian  boy  bethinks  himself  of  taking  the  necessary  steps 
for  the  preparation  of  this  mysterious  amulet  or  charm. 
lie  retires  to  some  solitary  spot,  where  he  spends  several 


is  particuliirly 
th  iill  tlu!  cm- 
1^0,  finery, 
uibsistciicc,  «,^c., 
,  is  in  uuiiiy  re- 
fold wc'iU'isotiHi 
1  ill  speaking  of 

loveublo  to  suit    \i 
r*kins,  snpporti'il   |! 
)unt;iins,    Tlioso    i 
(I  to.L'i'tlier,  and 
111!?  tent  is  tnuis- 
^,  the  siruill  emls 
he  shoulders  of  a 
and,  loaded  witli 
plu-rnaliti  of  the 
he  same  service, 
with  as  large  a 

I 

)0t  protected  hy 
lose  skin  lodges, 


we  may  still  see 

vaiiees  (foriiu'rly, 

tilt'  whole  poim- 

r  original  solem- 

iiiiversal    is  the 
very  man  earrics 

ieately  involved 
unting,  or  any  of 
ic  of  puberty  the 
noeessary  stops 

unlet  or  eharni. 
10  spends  several 


1 


A    I 


'« 


•li:llli:s  WKST  OI'"  TIIK  MISSI.-^SII'I-l. 


I  or. 


(I;i3's,  Iviiij^'  Mpoii  tilt'  <:rMini(l,  Inkiiii,'  no  Tu.nvisliiiiPiit,  iiiul 
I'liiployi'il  ill  c'Diitiiiiial  (i'l'vciit,  iuvocatiuiis  to  the  (in^at 
Spirit.  i''tilliii<(  asK.'c|>  ill  this  ('(imlitioii,  he  notes  particu- 
larly what  bird  or  animal  first  occiirriMl  to  his  iiiiiid  in 
dreams,  llr  then  ri'tiirns  home,  and,  al'ler  reeniitiii,if  liis 
strength,  Imsies  liiiii.selt'  in  the  pnrsiiit  ol'  the  ereutmv, 
until  lie  has  secured  a  siieeimeii.  This  ueetunplislKHJ,  he 
dresses  the  skin,  stuil's  it  with  moss  or  some  other  light 
siihstanec*,  and  devotes  liis  attciilioii  to  bedecking  it  with 
the  most  elahonitc  ornament. 


?d 


lis  metliemc-bag  can  l)e  procnveO 


111  at 


no 


pr 


leo,  an( 


1  the 


loss  oI'  it,  even  in  the  heat  of  battle,  is  a  signal  disgrace, 
ily  to  be  wiped  out  by  tin'  seizure  of  a  similar  eharm 


01 


liom  a  slaiightereil  enemy.     "These  curious  ai)peiidage: 


Catl 


in,     to  tlie  persons  or  wai 


drobe  o(  ail  I 


ndiaii,  are 


sometimes  made  ol'  the  skin  of  an  otter,  a  beaver,  a  musk 
rat,  a  weaxel,  a  racoon,  a  ]»ole-cat,  a  snake,  a  i'rog,  a  toad, 
a  bat,  a  mouse,  a  mole,  a  hawk,  an  engle,  a  niag[)ie,  or  a 


sparrow  ;- 


someLimes  of  the  skin  of  an  animal  so  Iar<>i'  as 


a  wo 


11';  and  at  other.'' 


the  skins  of  the  lesser  an 


liinalf 


so  small  that  they  are  hiddi'ii  under  the  dress,  and  very 
ilillieiilt  to  be  found,  evi'U  if  .searched  fijr." 


T 


ic  strange  am 


I  hid 


cous  conjurations  ot  the  mcdicino 


tiieu  or  necroniaiu:ers,  wlu)  pi'i'lbrm  their  ceremonies  about 
the  sick  or  dviiig  with  a  view  to  their  relief,  may  be  hen; 
seen  in  their  utmost  extravagance. 

The  Crows  aix'  far  inferior  in  numbers  to  the  Blackf(\^t, 
with  whom  they  are  engaged  in  [u'l'petual  warfare.     'Jliey 

liabit  the  country  adjacent  to  the   Yellowstoni',  as  iiir 


111 


are 


IS 


westward  as  the  foot  of  the  Hocky  ^rountains.  '\^\\<<'\ 
11  line  race,  })hysically  .s})eaking;  their  avt'i'age  height 
greatly  beyond  that  of  any  of  the  iieighlK)ring  tribes,  and 
tls-y  are  models  of  activity  and  strength.  They  have  been 
el  iractcri/.ed  as  a  lawless,  thieving  horde  of  .savages  ;  but 
thos.^  best  ac(|uaintcd  with  their  character  and  disposition, 
80 


4'j 


11' 


h^' 


W: 


I'fl 


\M^- 


1^:.'^  ' 


'I  fi 


.;'.!'- 

;j 

•.   '  (    ■  r 

.i  i  "* 

"3 

■■■'■.'    ' 

;■■  ■*!■ 


■■'■f^. 


r  !■:''■  ■'■^:^- 


'■m 


•iQCi 


INDIAN  HACKS  OF  AMERICA 


speak  of  tliem  as  lioncst  and  trust-worthy,  and  excuse 
the  dejoiedations  of  wlucli  they  have  from  time  to  time 
been  guilty,  as  having  generally  resulted  from  gross  pro- 
vocation. From  whatever  cause,  and  whichever  race  may 
have  been  the  most  in  foult,  it  is  certain  that  the  two 
wild  tribes  of  which  we  are  now  speaking  have  been,  from 
the  earliest  periods  in  which  Europeans  have  j'enetiatcd 
their  territory,  objects  of  terror  to  traders  and  trappers. 

One  distinguishing  peculiarity  of  these  Indians,  is  the 
extraordinary  length  of  their  hair,  which  is  ch  ished  and 
cultivated  as  an  ornament,  until  it  sweeps  the  ground  after 
them.  Tliis  profusion  is  to  be  seen  in  no  tribe  exeej)t  the 
Crows,  alfliough  some  of  their  neighbors  endeavor  to  imi- 
tate it,  by  glueing  an  additional  length  to  their  natural  hair. 

The  Crows  speak  a  different  language  from  the  Black- 
feet,  and,  as  we  have  mentioned,  are  continually  at  war 
with  that  tribe.  They  only  nundx'r  about  four  thonsand, 
and  arc  consequently  at  great  disadvantage  in  these 
hostilities. 

The  smaller  !Minitn,ri  tribes,  between  the  mouth  of  the 
Yellowstone  and  the  site  of  the  Mandan  villages,  and  the 
extensive  nation  of  the  Gros  Ventres,  iidiabiting  the  east- 
ern slope  of  the  IJoeky  Mountains,  speak  tlie  same  Inii- 
guagj  with  the  Crows,  or  one  very  nearly  allied  to  it.  The 
Arapahoes,  numbering  some  three  thousand,  and  dwelliiiir 
about  the  sources  of  the  Platte  and  Arkansas  rivers,  beujiig 
to  the  race  of  the  Blackfeet. 

Thelatte  •  nation,  besides  their  enemies  at  the  East,  have 
had,  from  an  indehnite  period,  to  contend  with  the  Flat- 
head and  other  tribes  still  farther  westward.  'J'he  descent 
of  these  remote  bands  upon  the  jjlains  in  pursuit  of  buflfiilo, 
has  ever  been  deemed  by  the  Blackfeet  a  signal  infringe- 
ment of  their  rights,  and  fierce  battles  often  result  from 
the  conflicting  claims  of  the  rival  nations.  Althoiidi 
other  game  abounds  in  the  mountain  districts  inhabited 


J! 


>       !  i 


TRIBES  WEST  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI. 


467 


by  some  of  these  tribes,  iiotliing  possesses  such  attractions 
for  tliem  as  the  bulFulo-hunt,  and  they  are  ready  to  incur 
any  peril  rather  tlian  relinquisli  this  favorite  pursuit. 

The  Nez-Perces  or  Pierced-Nose  Indians,  the  Flat-heads, 
and  the  Pends  Orcilles  or  Hanging  Ears,  of  the  Kocky 
Mountains  and  their  western  slopes,  and  of  the  plains 
di'ained  by  the  sources  of  the  Columbia,  are  at  continual  and 
deadly  feud  with  the  Black  feet.  These  latter  seem,  indeed, 
to  have  their  hands  against  every  man,  with  the  exception 
of  their  kindred  Arapahoes,  to  whom  they  make  periodi- 
cal visits  of  friendship. 

Of  the  skirmishes  between  war-parties  of  these  hostile 
tribes,  their  forays  into  each  other's  territory,  and  the  ex- 
ploits of  their  most  redoubted  warriors,  many  striking 
tales  are  told  by  the  traders  and  trappers  who  visit  these 
remote  regions.  In  Mr.  Irving's  admirable  publication, 
"The  Adventures  of  Captain  Bonneville,  U,  S.  A.,  in  the 
Kocky  Mountains  and  the  Far  West,"  arranged  in  the  form 
of  interesting  and  pleasing  narrative,  from  the  capttun's 
manuscripts  and  other  sources,  are  details  of  various  inci- 
dents illustrative  of  the  character  and  halyts  of  these  tribes, 
so  told  as  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  reader,  rnd  to  leave 
a  vivid  impression  upon  the  mind. 

In  Cox's  "Adventures  on  the  Columl)ia  River,"  fi'ight- 
fnl  dcscri})tions  are  given  of  the  cruelties  practiced  by 
the  Flatdieads  u[)on  some  Blackfoot  prisoners  who  had 
fallen  into  their  hands.  Such  proceedings  ap[)eared  utterly 
variant  from  the  natural  disposition  of  those  Indians,  and 
only  serve  to  show  to  what  lengths  usage,  a  spirit  of  re- 
taliation, and  natural  antipathy,  may  carry  a  people  whose 
general  character  is  gentle  and  kindly. 

The  author  particularly  describes  the  oadurance  of  one 
of  the  Blackfoot  braves,  upon  whom  every  s[)ecics  of  tor- 
ture was  tried  in  vain  attempts  to  overcome  his  fortitude, 
lie  exulted  over  his  tormentors,  vaunting  his  own  deeds 


\\\  '.     . 

i*        '*  •*.,  ■<   ■ 


,■(,:  '-J 


'■'■•r^  ■ 

-V: 

'  I,    '■ 

i  „■    '.'.    ».. 

■' 

■       ■■.    >  V 

.            1 

I"      ' 
i 

•  ^:'  -. 

i| ..  s 


1  ., 


468 


INDIAN   RACES  OF  AMERICA, 


./  f 


I 


p-i  ■■.:■< 


in  the  following  language:  "'My  heart  is  strong. — You 
do  not  hurt  me, — You  can't  hurt  me. — You  are  fools. — 
Yon  do  not  know  how  to  torture. — Try  it  again. — I  don't 
feel  any  pain  yet. — We  torture  your  relations  a  great  deal 
better,  because  we  make  them  cry  out  loud,  like  little 
children. — You  are  not  brave;  you  have  small  hearts,  and 
you  are  always  afraid  to  fight.'  Then,  addressing  one  in 
l^articular,  he  said,  '  It  was  by  my  arrow  you  lost  j-our 
eye;'  upon  which  the  Hat-head  darted  at  him,  and  with  a 
knife,  in  a  moment  scooped  on'-  oi.e  of  his  eyes;  at  the 
same  time,  cutting  the  bridg.:^  ol  ms  no.se  nearly  in  two. 
This  did  not  stop  him:  with  the  remaining  eye  he  looked 
sternly  at  another,  and  said,  "I  killed  your  brother,  and  I 
scalped  your  old  fooi  of  a  father.'  The  warrior  to  wliom 
this  was  addressed  ins'antly  .sprung  at  him,  and  severed  the 
scalp  from  his  head." 

The  chief  restrained  tliis  enraged  warrior  from  termin- 
ating the  suflfcrin  ';s  of  the  victim  by  a  blow;  but  was,  liini- 
self,  immediately  afterwards  so  exasperated  by  his  taunts 
and  insults,  that  he  could  not  withhold  his  own  hand,  and 
shot  the  mangled,  wretch  through  the  heart. 

Of  the  Crow  character,  a  very  singular  trait  is  e.xhibiti'il 
in  an  adventure  of  a  noted  trapjier,  Mr.  liobert  Cani])bell, 
as  given  in  Mr.  Irving's  work,  abtjve  mentioned.  This 
traveller  was  upon  one  occasion  hosj)ital)ly  entertained  by 
the  celebrated  Crow  chief,  Arapooisli,  in  whose  tent  lio 
had  deposited  a  large  bundle  of  valuable  fui-s.  '^i'he  greater 
})art  of  his  stores  was  buried  in  the  ground  foi-  safety. 

The  old  chief  a.scertained,  during  Campbell's  stay,  tluit 
his  guest  had  made  a  "cache,"  (tlie  French  term  applied  to 
such  places  of  concealment,)  and  that  some  of  his  own 
tribe  had  discovered  and  plundered  it.  The  number  of 
bcaver-.skins  stolen  Avas  one  hundred  and  fifty. 

Arapooish  immediately  assembled  all  the  men  of  tlie 
village,  and  after  making  a  speech,  in  which  he  vehemently 


.      ;  I 


strong. — You 
lU  are  fools. — ■ 
igain. — I  don't 
ns  a  "Teat  deal 
Hid,  like  little  ii 
nail  hearts,  and  i ' 
dressing  one  in   \ ; 

you  lost  your 
um,  and  witli  a 
is  eyes;  at  the 

nearly  in  two.   '; 
y  eye  he  looked 
r  brother,  and  I 
warrior  to  wlioin 

and  severed  the 

I  I 
I 

ior  from  termin- 
s';  but  was,  him- 
od  by  his  taunts 
s  own  hand,  and   , 

rt.  ! 

•ait  is  exhibiti'il 
)bert  Cani])!)*,'!!, 
lentioned.     This 
V  entertained  by 
whose  tent  lie 
irs.    I'he  greater 
nd  for  safety. 
)beirs  stay,  that 
term  iipphed  to 
onie  of  his  own 
The  number  of 
fifty. 

tlie  men  of  the 
h  he  vehemently 


TRIBES  WEST  OF  THE  ^[ISSISSIPPI. 


469 


declaimed  against  their  bad  faith  towards  the  stranger, 
vowed  that  he  would  neitlicr  touch  food  nor  drink  until 
complete  restoration  should  be  made.  He  then  took  his 
seat  with  the  trapper  in  his  wigwam,  and  awaited  the  re- 
sult, desiring  his  companion  to  make  no  remarks  if  the 
skins  were  brought,  but  simply  to  keep  account  of  them. 

More  than  a  hundred  of  the  stolen  articles  were  brought 
in  before  night,  but  notwithstanding  Campbell's  expressions 
of  satisfaction,  the  old  Indian  would  neither  eat  nor  drink 
througliout  that  night  and  the  next  day.  The  skins  sloAvly 
made  their  apjiearance,  "one  and  two  at  a  time  through- 
out the  day;  imtil  but  a  few  were  wanting  to  make  the 
number  complete.  Cam|)l)ell  was  now  anxious  to  put  an 
end  to  this  fasting  of  the  old  chief,  and  again  declared  that 
lie  was  i)erfectly  satisfied.  Arapooish  demanded  what 
number  of  skins  were  yet  wanting.  On  being  told,  he 
wliispered  to  some  of  his  people,  who  disappeared.  After 
a  time  the  nund)er  were  brought  in,  though  it  was  evident 
they  Avcre  not  any  of  the  skins  that  had  been  stolen,  but 
others  gleaned  in  the  village." 

Arapooish  then  broke  his  fast,  and  gave  his  guest  much 
wholesome  advice,  charging  him  always,  when  he  visited 
:i  Crow  village  to  put  himself  and  his  goods  under  protec- 
tion of  the  chief.  Of  Campbell's  conclusions  upon  the 
character  of  the  race,  Mi".  Irving  says:  "  lie  has  ever  since 
maintained  that  the  Crows  are  not  so  black  as  they  have 
l)0(Mi  painted.  'Trust  to  their  honor,'  says  he,  'and  you 
are  safe;  trust  to  their  honesty,  and  they  will  steal  the 
liair  off' your  head.'" 

The  manner  in  which  old  Arapooish  enlarged  upon  the 
natural  advantages  of  the  Crow  country  in  conveu'sation 
with  Mr.  Campbell  is  too  quaint  to  be  passed  over.  He 
avcrrcL.  that  it  was  located  in  precisely  the  right  sjiot  for 
the  security  of  all  tliat  was  desirable  in  life,  and  the  avoid- 
ance of  its  usual  trials  and  wants.     lie  enlarged  uj)on  the 


H' 


■"ft"    '■'''.    '  ;'  ." 


,.  v:  •:, 


ill      : 


i')'^~' 


,  v:  •'' 


1  1: 


I.     !; 


''!^'": 


470 


INDIAN  -RA  CES  OF  A:MEKICA. 


■'r%:, 


cold  of  the  north,  where  clogs  must  take  the  place  of  horses; 
and  iipon  the  barren  and  arid  plains  of  the  south,  replete  with 
pestilential  vapors.  At  the  west,  he  said,  "On  the  Cohun- 
bia,  they  are  poor  and  dirty,  paddle  about  in  eanocs,  and 
eat  fish.  Their  teeth  arc  worn  out;  they  are  always  tak- 
ing fish-bones  out  of  their  mouths.     Fish  is  poor  food. 

"To  the  east,  they  dwell  in  villages;  they  live  well;  but 
they  drink  tlic  muddy  water  of  the  Missouri — that  is  bad. 
A  Crow's  dog  would  not  drink  such  water. 

"  About  the  forks  of  the  Missouri  is  a  fine  country ;  good 
"water;  good  grass;  plenty  of  buU'alo.  In  sunnner  it  is 
almost  as  good  as  the  Crow  country;  but  in  winter  it  is 
cold;  the  grass  is  gone;  and  there  is  no  salt- weed  for  the 
horses." — {Bunncvi/len  Adahiures.) 

Then  followed  an  enthusiastic  enumeration  of  the  bless- 
ings enjoyed  by  the  Crows;  the  variety  of  climate;  the 
abundance  of  game;  the  winter  resources  for  man  and 
beast;  and  the  relief  fi'om  the  heat  of  summer  ailbrded  by 
the  cool  breezes  and  fresh  springs  of  the  mountains. 

In  a  former  chapter,  we  have  devoted  some  little  sjx'ioe 
to  illustrations,  from  Mr.  Catliu's  letters,  of  the  strength  of 
I)arental  aft'ection  among  the  Western  Indians,  partieulai'ly 
the  Sioux:  in  the  work  last  cited  ai'e  numerous  anecdotes 
exemplifying,  in  a  manner  equally  forcible,  the  enduring 
ami  powerful  attachment  often  noticeable  between  the 
sexes;  and  this  not  only  among  the  Indians  alone,  but 
where  they  have  intermarried  with  whites. 

One  of  these  instances  was  as  follows :  "  Among  the  free 
trappers  in  the  Rocky  Mountain  band  was  a  s})irited  young 
Mexican,  named  Loretto;  who,  in  the  course  of  his  wan- 
derings, had  ransomed  a  beautiful  Blackloot  girl  from  a 
band  of  Crows,  by  whom  she  had  been  captured.  lie  made 
her  his  wife,  after  the  Indian  style,  and  she  had  followed 
his  fortunes  ever  since  Avith  the  most  devoted  aflection," 

The  company,  one  day,  fell  in  with  a  numerous  party 


^t:. 


TRIBES  WEST  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI. 


471 


ilacc  of  horses; 
:h,  replete  with 
OutlicCohim-  Ij 
in  eiinocs,  and  h 
ire  always  tak-  ' 
5  poor  food.  1 
r  live  well;  but  j 
i-i — that  is  bad.  , 
i 

;  country;  good 
n  sununer  it  is 
iu  winter  it  is 
alt-weed  for  the  , 

tion  of  the  bless-   , 
of  climate;  the  i 
les  for  man  and 
iner  a  (lorded  by 
nountains. 
sonic  little  space 
)f  the  strengtli  of 
ians,  particularly 
aerous  anecdotes 
lie,  the  enduring 
,1c   between   tlic 
idlans  alone,  but 

"Among  the  free 
4  a  spirited  young 
)urse  of  his  wan- 

loot  girl  from  a 
)tured.     He  made 
she  had  followed 
voted  alVeetion." 

numerous  party 


of  Blackfoot  warriors,  and  the  preliminary  steps  were 
taken  for  a  parley,  and  for  smoking  the  calumet,  in  token 
of  peace.  At  this  moment,  Loretto's  Indian  wife  perceived 
her  own  brother  among  the  band.  "Leaving  her  infant 
with  Loretto,  she  rushed  forward  and  threw  herself  wpon 
her  brother's  neck;  who  clasped  his  long-lost  sister  to  his 
heart,  with  a  warmth  of  aftbetion  but  little  compatible  with 
the  reputetl  stoicism  of  the  savage." 

Meanwhile,  Bridger,  one  of  the  trapper  leaders,  ap- 
proaching the  Blaekfeet,  from  an  imprudent  excess  of 
caution,  cocked  his  rifle  just  as  he  came  u^)  with  them. 
The  Indian  chief,  who  was  in  the  act  of  prolfcring  a 
fr'cndly  salutation,  heard  the  click  of  the  lock,  and  all  his 
nati  ,'e  fury  and  suspicion  were  instantly  aroused.  He 
sprang  ni)on  Bridger,  forced  the  muzzle  of  the  rifle  into 
the  ground,  where  it  was  discharged,  knocked  him  down, 
seized  his  horse,  and  rode  oft".  A  general,  but  disorderly 
fight  ensued,  during  which  Loretto's  wife  was  hurried 
away  by  her  relations. 

The  noble  young  T'/oxican  saw  her  in  their  power,  vainly 
entreating  permission  to  return,  and,  regardless  of  the 
danger  incurred,  at  once  hastened  to  her  side,  and  restored 
the  child  to  its  mother.  The  Blaekfeet  braves  admired  his 
boldness,  and  respected  the  confidence  which  he  had  re- 
posed in  them  by  thus  venturing  iu  their  midst,  but  they 
W(^re  deaf  to  all  the  prayers  of  himself  and  his  wife  that 
they  might  remain  together.  lie  was  dismissed  unharmed, 
but  the  w^oman  and  child  were  detained. 

Not  many  months  afterwards  the  fiuthful  Loretto  pro- 
cured his  discharge  from  the  eomi)any  in  whose  service  he 
was  enlisted,  and  followed  liis  wife  to  her  own  country. 
A  happy  reunion  took  place,  and  the  loving  })air  took  up 
their  residence  at  a  trading-house  among  the  Blaekfeet, 
where  the  husband  served  ixs  interpreter  between  the  In- 
dians and  white  traders. 


1  ■■  '■  ^■■''y,l 


y'i. 


m\ 


472 


INUIAN  HACKS  OV  AMKIUOA. 


Another  talc  of  IiHliau  love;  and  rivalry  i«  tliat  of  a 
Blackfoot  warrior,  named  Kosato,  J'osidin<;  among  tlio 
No/-l'erc('s  wlion  tliat  tribe  was  visited  by  lionncville. 

He  had  lidUm  in  k)ve  with  the  wife  of  a  chief  (.!'  his  own 
tribe,  ami  liis  all'eetion  was  nlui'ned.  Aeeordin.sjj  to  his 
own  {)ositive  asseveralioiis,  altlioMgii  they  "lalked  to<^otli- 
or— hui<iflied  toj^elher— and  were  always  seeking  each 
other's  soeiety,"  tliey  were  "as  innoeent  as  ehiUlren." 

The  jeahinsy  of  tlie  Inisbaiid  was  at  last  eonipletclv 
aroused,  and  he  visited  his  vengeance  U])on  both  the  ollend- 
ing  parties.  The  wife  was  cruelly  beaten,  and  sternly  bid 
not  even  to  bchLow  u  look  n})on  Kosato,  while  the  youth 
himself  sullered  the  loss  of  all  his  horses,  ui)on  which  the 
chief  had  seized.  Maddeii(>d  with  love  and  rt'veug(>,  Kos- 
ato wailed  his  opi)ortunity ;  slew  the  objt'ct  of  his  hate; 
and  hastened  to  entreat  his  mistress  to  lly  with  him.  At 
first  she  oidy  wept  bitterly,  but  linally,  overcome  by  his 
])ersuasions,  and  the  i)romptings  of  her  own  all'eetion,  she 
forsook  her  peopU>,  and  sought,  with  her  lover,  an  asylum 
among  the  peaceful  and  kindly  Nez;-Pcrces. 

Kosato  was  foremost  in  rousing  up  a  warlike  and  manlv 
si)irit  among  the  tribe  of  his  adoption,  but  he  found  the 
disposition  of  his  new  allies  far  dilferent  I'rom  that  of  the 
hot-blooded  'MackfW't  and  Cj'ows.  "They  are  good  and 
kind,"  said  he  to  Ronneville;  "tlieyarc  honest;  but  their 
hearts  are  the  hearts  of  women." 

From  these  and  numberless  similar  talcs,  it  is  sufricieutlv 
evident  that  the  cloak  of  reserve  in  which  the  Indian  wraps 
himself  from  the  scrutiny  of  strangers,  cova-rs  j)assions  and 
affections  as  fiery  and  impetuous  as  arc  to  be  witnes^:'d  in 
more  demonstrative  races. 


^'  is  that  of  0.  '\\ 
'^  aiiiung  tlio  I 
ionnoville.  \ 
liolci' hisowii  ! 
•online  to  his  ! 
lallciMl  togctli-  ' 
scH'lvinii"  vM'h 
children.''  i 

ist  colli] ilt'tcly 
lotli  the  olU'iul-    , 
.11(1  sternly  hi'l 
iiile  the  voiitli    ' 
pou  wiru-h  llic 

reveiij^'e,  Kos- 
L't  of  his  luito; 
,vith  him.  At 
ercoine  l>y  his 
I  aiVectioii,  she 

ver,  an  asylum 

ike  and  manly 

t  he  foiiml  the 

oiii  that  of  the 

are  piod  and 

lOst;  hut  their 

it  is  suirieieiitly 
e  Indian  wrajis 
rs  passions  and 
be  witiiebc:.:'d  in 


•/■//  /:    /)  ;:  r  a  . 


?*tlltlll     purl  inn  "t    \\*.   MLSt  fn 


cjls  Win,  111  (iii(iiiliir  |i:i|-liiiii'>'.  "cr. .wili-il  Willi  il.MT."  No  iiiiiiiiiil  r  .ii.d  liavi-  Hii|i|ilir(l 
Ilie  niilivi*  Willi  a  k'r<':ili'r  Minriy  ..I  (■l.lll:.M■t^.  ri,r  ili->li  I'unii.-lir.l  ii  |.:i!iiliili|f  uthI  wIiuI.- 
wiinc  I'liiMl.iir  II  iinliiri'  riisllv  |  n— rvi'il  r..r  iiini»  •'  w  ml  ;  llii'  >;^i,i.  iln— iil  with  nr  wjlli- 
Mil  till'  liair,  wii!"  lln'  priiM'i|.iil  iiiiiliTiiil  loi' rlniliiin;,  linlcliii;;,  Aci-. ;  wliilr  ll.i'  limr.ii  and 
iiili'Miiir»  wui'ci  iiwd  111  iliu  inaiiiiluolinr  ol  v.tiiuiis  wcaiuiii.t  I' ii'  liiiiitiiiw  iir  Kir. 


^''•'.■i  '•'■  ^\- 


Til 


m 


t 


'  I  ^^ 

i    ' 

■V, 

I   ■ 

1  ' 

I'. 

'       1 

>,«' 


ii 


^ 


'-M^^i 


/■//  /.    /•;  /  .>  II  .V, 

I.I  \l  H.VI.IA     I  M.M  |i     ri:i,    11!   II  .M.n, 

TiiK  lini?!'  iiiiitiiiiln,  «Imi>i'  iinii'iiil  CHiirnriiiiiliiM!  i*  iiccinulrly  rriiri'iTMli'il  in  llir  iiliuvo 
ftkclch,  V  iiiidrr  In  hcnl^  u!  ('iiiiiiUos  iiuiniui'*.  ovt'i'  Hit*  wiMi'TIm'-^s  iiiul  |>ull^ll■^^  ol  llii' 
Titr  Wi'^l.  An  L,'itiii(i,  ilii')  iiri:  iiivaliialili  t<i  lint  IiiiIimiis,  liolli  liir  llit'ir  llcsli  .iiul  llic  >^»'^ 
wtiii'li  ruin  so  CiinsldcM'iihii-  nil  iiiliili-  m'  Iriilllo  In  I'm  towns  ul'  lilt-  Kasi. 

TlH'  Ijisoiis  sc.'UliT  wiili:y  oMT  llii'  iirmrifi  wli.ii  liTilihi,',  lull  wInMi  lli.-j  tuki-  ii|i  ihiif 
Inn- of  iimicli,  lipoii  tlii'ir  |M-rii'ilical  iihu'ialioiis,  the  w  liulf  liiril  procrril.i  in  i>  ciiiii|iiti'' 
niaH!",  oIlrriiiK  all  fiifv  ii|i(ioi't.iniiy  lor  ilir  iimxi  waslrt'iil  sinii'jiiii'r. 

'I'lic  luiiinal  Viio*  tonni  rly  l\iiin<l  ii'>  lai*  Ma^-I  mm  Uiit  lliiilf<in  riVfi\  imil  Morton  ^pcak-*  ul 
tlir  ilr>('t'i|ilion<<  nivcii  liy  llii'  Imlians  ul'  ••  (,'ii'ul  liriinN  of  wi-ll  u'l-o-.vni!  lii.'iidti  lliiil  li"' 
iiiioiil  III)'  imi'i.'  oi'  tliH  liiki'  (I  liiiario),  kiicIi  ui*  llir  Clirlsliiiii  wuild  (unlilo  ll>is  >liit>:uti'i'v; 
lialli  nol  Ijfi'ii  inailii  iio|naiiiI(:il  wiiii." 


llrih.-:*  mill  l"'"'""  "'  '"'■ 
,„MI..Mr  llrsh  .iii.l  lIu-k.M 

Ir  lllr   KlM. 

l,„l.  wl..M>  tl.'J  t^ikr  »1.  tt.Hr 

;li|.r. 
|r,v,T,  luiil  Miii-um"lii':'l--"' 


7'//  /.    /.'  f,.i  (  K   .sq  V I  n  li  i:  /, , 

A     nK.AUllFLI,    \,VVi\.\:    AM.VAI.    nF     NdKTIl    A.lil.ttKA. 

It  Wilt  cijir.til.iiHl  l.j  Ihi'  Indians,  iiii  li'«  lliuii  In  (heir  wliilti  nucceHHors,  n  vi'iy  dosir- 
iilili-  iilij,-ct  111'  (lurMiil  MM  an  ai'liclc  id'  Inud. 

f-Hiiiihl-.«kiiih  sirvcd  also  fur  various  DriKuininla!  purpcwa  In  llii!  inaniifueluri'df  clolli- 
iiiH  ajul  douoruliuii.t. 


h- 


[mm 

•  ■ «  W'.a 

1 

;)iM 

''i.  ^  i:i 


■■f*t"'- 

!     ■"'■■.' 

^■;v: 

I 
I 


p 

1,  r  i^'i 


'  1 


im 


■<,\i: 


r  ^^T-7 


'iH^a 


m 


1^ 


■\ai'^.. 


[-■■■St'*'"  tMi'6 


■  i. 


:m:\ 


I.  'I 

■  -^    I'j  ■ 


■vi'h' 


•/'//  /•;    ^■  HI/./.  I.  )     H  K.I  H  . 

No  nnimal.  iipnii  Ihi'  whole  ciuiiiiii'iil  <<(  Aiiii'in'ii,  i?  r-n  iliini; u^  :imcI  Irripciiiii"  us  llie 

(ino  huru  ili'|iiclr(l.  .M.  Koitaici,  in  lll^  ••  I'linlliiuii  (••i|iiiliiiiv."  ii  cl>'-('i'i|iii'<ii  nf  Uin  uiii- 
IiIuIh  of  tlie  Jiirdiii  (lea  l*liimi'».  Innii  which  wmk  Ihe  Mli'Hf  ^-knch  l^  lukcii.  siijs:  -Tliii 
grizzly  belli'  joins  to  llic  Hliipidilv  of  Ihf  ln'iir  lln'  l.'riiciiv  of  ihc  jiii;>iurt  the  (.•oiiriii.'e  nt' 
the  tif^'T,  and  the  sIrciiL'lli  of  Ihr  limi.  (ir  -^iijiiuiv  IkiIhw.  liki'  olhcr  «{ii'i'i<'s  of  his  nice, 
ho  ro.T.ll'*  over  tin'  viist  Inijiiiii  liirilcny  n(  thi'  ^<l^lll•^vl•^<t.  iiihahilcd  l>y  Ihe  wmidoriiig 
natUins  of  tlie  l!:ii-k-lVil,  Ni'<  IVht-.,  Kiiii'<:i''.  ('ruw.  &i-." 

A»toiii!'hiii«  tides  lire  Inhl  el"  ihi'  |irudi:,'i(iiis  sinM|._i'.,  and  hiiphiciddn  fury  of  IhiK  "ni 
mill.  Thu  hii'/e  lii^on  !■<  heliileiis  in  hi''  '^'rasii.  .-•iid  ii  is  ii  ciiiniiion  !<iiyiii'^  Ihiil,  if  h  hiiiiliT 
eoines  witldii  his  re:ii'h,  one  uiihe  iw.i  inii-<i  die.  The  liidi:iii  liuiders  disphiy  iire.'il  ceiir- 
iu{e  Hnd  resolution  ill  the  piir'Hii  of  ihis  lerriiili'  enemy;  iiii  uiiderlakiiii;  eiilt'ied  np"ii 
riilliLM'  from  pride  imd  the  hope  ul'  renown  ili.'iii  iVorn  eX|iecimioii  of  proHl. 


.J 


•      t      . 


TKIBES  WEST  OF  TJIE  illSSISSIPPI.  473 

CHAPTER  V. 

TRII5F,S  ON  THB  COI-iTMHIA   AND  ITS   TKIBUTAUIKS THE   NEZ-PERCfiS 

THEIK    KEMGKIUS    CHAUACTK'i THE  WAT-LA-WALLAS THE 

CHINOOKS MODE    OF    FLATTENING    THE    HEAD THE 

BOTOQUE — CANOES    OF     THE    TlilKES     ON    THE 

LOWER  WATERS  OF  THE  (.'OLUMIHA FISH- 

ING — HOUSES    OF  THE  FLAT-HEADS. 

The  principal  tribe  dwelling  within  the  vast  anipitlioatre 
drained  by  the  Kooskooske,  westward  from  the  Blaekfoot 
country,  and  across  the  Rocky  Mountains,  is  that  of  the 
Nez-Perces  or  Pierced-Nose  Indians.  Proceeding  down 
the  river,  wc  find  numerous  tribes,  known,  collectively,  as 
Flat-heads,  although  the  physical  peculiarity  from  which 
they  derive  their  name  is  by  no  means  universal. 

Ui)on  the  main  southern  branch,  the  Lewis  Fork  of  the 
Cohuubia,  or  Snake  river,  dwell  the  Shoshonecs,  or  Snake 
Indians,  a  race  perhaps  more  widely  disseminated  than 
any  other  of  the  present  descendants  of  the  North  Ameri- 
can aborigines. 

The  ISTez-Pcrct'S  are,  as  mentioned  in  a  preceding  chap- 
ter, a  quiet,  inoffensive  people,  althougli,  when  fairly 
aroused,  they  are  not  wanting  in  courage  and  eflicii'ncy. 
Their  susceptibility  to  religious  impressions  is  remarkable, 
and  their  patient  reliance  upon  and  sincere  invocations  to 
the  Great  Spirit,  in  times  of  want  or  (hmger,  might  shame 
the  m  ;st  crdightened  nation. 

In  a  time  of  great  scarcity,  Ca})tain  Bonneville  fell  in 
with  a  party  of  these  Indians,  in  a  state  of  the  utmost  des- 
titution. They  were  subsisting  upon  wild  rose-l)uds,  roots, 
and  other  crude  and  innutritions  food,  and  their  only 
weapon  was  a  single  spear.  "With  this  they  liiially  set  out, 
on  horse-back,  upon  what  appeared  to  the  whites  an  ut- 
terly hopeless  expedition  in  search  of  game.     They  rode 


k 


'  i 
.;«,' 


:':'if^ 


,,  1 


't''i  i 


474 


INDIAN   KACES  OF  AMERICA. 


off,  liowever,  with  elieerful  confidence  that  their  prayers 
woukl  now  be  heard  b}'  the  Great  Spii'it.  The  undertak- 
ing was  successful,  and  the  poor  Indians  freely  shared  the 
meat  which  they  had  secured  among  the  hungry  whites. 

I'hc  kind-hearted  captain,  from  long  obsci'vation  of  their 
character,  became  more  and  more  enthusiastic  in  his  ad- 
miration of  the  simplicity,  benevolence,  and  piety  of  the 
tribe.  Some  rude  conceptions  of  Christian  doctrines  and 
observances  had,  in  earlier  times,  been  disseminated  among 
them,  and  they  eagerly  listened  to  such  instruction  upon 
tliese  topics  as  Cajitain  Bonneville  was  enabled  to  convey. 
In  his  own  words:  "Simply  to  call  these  people  religious, 
would  convey  but  a  faint  idea  of  the  deep  hue  of  piety 
and  devotion  which  pervades  their  whole  conduct.  Their 
honesty  is  immaculate,  and  their  purity  of  purpose,  and 
their  observance  of  the  rites  of  their  religion,  are  most 
uniform  and  remarkable.  They  are  certainly  more  like  a 
nation  of  saints  than  a  horde  of  savages." 

There  are  two  tribes  of  the  Pierced-Nose  Indians,  the 
upper  and  the  lower:  the  first  of  these  is  that  to  which 
particular  allusion  has  heretofore  been  made  in  connection 
witli  Blaekfoot  hostilities.  The  Indians  of  the  lower  tribe 
subsist  upon  fish,  and  u})on  deer,  elk,  and  other  game  of 
their  own  country. 

Bonneville  gives  them  almost  as  good  a  character  as 
their  lu'cthren,  the  upper  tribe,  pronouncing  them  "one  of 
the  purest-hearted  pcoj)le  on  the  face  of  the  earth."  Other 
travellers  and  traders,  who,  probably  in  consecpicnce  of 
their  own  unscrupulous  villany,  have  experienced  dif 
ferent  treatment  at  the  hands  of  these  Indians,  naturally 
enough  set  them  down  as  dishonest  and  inhospitable.  As 
one  instance  of  their  generosity  and  kind-heartedness:  the 
captain's  horse  was  recognized  by  one  of  the  tribe  as  hav- 
ing formerly  been  stolen  from  himself  He  proved  owner- 
ship iiicontestibly,  but  voluntarily  relinquished  his  claim, 


) 


..  ^-.^ 


their  prayers 
The  imdertuk-  i 
cly  shared  the 
mgry  -whites, 
vation  of  their 
stic  in  his  ad- 
d  piety  of  the 

duetrines  and 
minated  among 
struetion  upon 
bled  to  convey, 
eople  religious, 
p  hue  of  piety 
:oiiduet.  Their 
)f  purpose,  and 
ligion,  are  most 
inly  more  like  a 


ise  Indians,  the 
3  that  to  whieh 
de  in  connection 
f  the  lower  triho 
other  game  of 

a  character  aa 
gthcm  "one  of 
earth."  Other 
consequence  of 
xperienced  dif 
dians,  naturally 
hospitahle.  As 
leartedness:  the 
lie  tribe  as  hav- 
proved  ownrr- 

lished  his  claim, 


t 


TRIBES  WEST  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI. 


475 


saying:  "You  got  him  in  iliir  trade — you  arc  more  in  want 
of  horses  than  I  am:  keep  him;  lie  is  yours — he  is  a  good 
horse;  use  him  well." 

Further  westward,  upon  the  banks  of  the  Columbia, 
below  the  mouth  of  the  Lewis  Fork,  are  found  the  AValla- 
wallas;  they  are  not  unlike  the  Pierced-Noses  in  general 
ai)})earance,  language,  and  habits.  They  arc  kind  towards 
strangers,  and  in  their  deportment  exhibit  great  decency 
and  decorum.  They  have  plenty  of  horses,  and  maintain 
the  same  border  warfare  with  the  Shoshonees  that  their 
neiglibors  farther  uj)  the  river  are  constantly  waging  with 
the  Blackfeet.  The  cause  of  hostility  is  similar,  viz :  a  claim 
of  right  of  hunting  Avitliin  the  hostile  territory;  in  the  one 
case,  for  the  bulValo ;  in  the  other,  for  the  black-tailed  deer. 

Passing  over  the  Spokans,  Cootonais,  Chaudieres,  Point- 
ed Hearts,  &c.,  &c.,  we  will  describe  a  little  more  at  large 
the  Chinooks,  Flat-heads  in  reality,  as  in  name,  who  dwell 
about  the  lower  portions  of  the  Columbia.  The  horrible 
deformity  of  the  skull,  which  constitutes  their  chief  })liys- 
ical  peculiarity,  is  produced  by  pressure  upon  the  forehead 
of  the  infant  while  the  bone  is  soft  and  pliable.  The  child 
is  stretched  upon  its  back,  after  the  usual  Indian  fashion, 
and  a  bit  of  board  or  bark  is  so  secured  by  striims  that  it 
can  be  tightened  at  jneasure,  creating  a  steady  pressure 
until  the  head  is  so  ilattened  that  a  straight  line  can  be 
drawn  from  the  tip  of  the  nose  to  the  unnatural  apex.  The 
operation  occupies  from  a  few  weeks  to  a  j^ear,  or  more,  at 
the  end  of  which  time  the  .skull  is  hardened,  and  never 
thereafter  resumes  its  natural  slia})e.  The  thickness  of  the 
broad  ridge  at  the  back  of  the  head  is  little  over  an  inch. 

This  extensive  displacement  of  the  brain  does  not,  as  far 
as  travellers  have  observed,  effect  any  noticeable  change 
in  the  faculties  of  the  mind.  It  is  an  unaccountable  cus- 
tom, and  is  persisted  in  as  being  an  iinprovement  uj)ou 
nature;  perhaps  from  the  same  ideal  that  suggested  the 


■    i 


, '  ,    'r     i   ' .  ■ 

'    C,  •  ,;.■ 


■  ■      '  if   ■,:    J] 


'"ii'i-:',"  >»  a 


476 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMKKICA. 


'.■i("'''- ,'  '•'''  ■ 


:1 


retreating  forehead  characteristic  of  tlie  ancient  sculptures 
of  Egyjit  and  Central  America.  Various  tribes  and  nations 
of  America  were  formerly  in  the  habit  of  flattening  the 
head,  who  have  long  since  ceased  so  to  mar  their  i'air  [)ro- 
portions.  Even  in  South  America,  as  \vc  shall  see  here- 
after, skulls  are  still  found  bearing  evident  marks  of  tliis 
hideous  distortion. 

Exclusive  of  the  head,  there  is  little  particularly  uotice- 
;ibir  about  the  personal  ajipcarance  of  the  Indians  of  the 
lower  Columbia.  The  description  given  of  them,  jiarticu- 
lai'l}'  of  tlieir  women,  is  by  no  means  attractive.  It  would 
seem,  from  one  of  ^Ir.  Catlin's  illustrations,  that  a  singular 
custom,  generally  considered  as  jieculiar  to  tlie  Bra/.ilian 
Botocudos,  is  occasionally  obsei'vable  among  them.  He 
gives  a  sketch  of  a  woman  Avhose  underdip  is  pierced,  and 
tli(!  aperture  filled  with  a  large  wooden  plug  or  bultou 
(termed  the  "botoque"  in  South  America). 

'^riieir  most  successful  advance  in  the  arts,  is  seen  in  the 
manuflicture  of  their  canoes.  These,  according  to  tin' 
description  given  in  the  history  of  Lewis  and  Clarke's 
travels,  are  often  "upwards  of  fifty  feet  long,  and  will 
caiuy  fi'om  eight  to  ten  thousand  pounds  weight,  or  [nnn 
twenty  to  thirty  persons.  *  *  Tliey  are  cut  out  of  a 
single  trunk  of  a  tree,  Avliich  is  generally  white  cedar, 
thoiigli  the  fir  is  sometimes  used.  *  *  When  thevem- 
bai-k,  on"  Indian  sits  in  the  stern,  and  steers  with  a})ad(1:e; 
the  otliors  kneel  in  pairs  in  the  bottom  of  the  canoe,  and, 
sitting  on  their  heels,  paddle  over  the  gunw;ilc  next  to 
tlwui.  In  tliis  way  they  ricL  with  perfect  saiety  the  high- 
est waves,  and  ventui'c  without  the  least  concern  in  seas 
where  other  boats  and  seamen  could  not  live  an  instant. 
They  sit  quietly  and  paddle,  with  no  other  movciiient, 
except  when  any  large  wave  throw.-i  the  boat  on  her  side, 
and  to  the  eye  of  the  spectator  ,'-'hc  seems  lost:  the  man  to 
windward  then  steadies  her  by  iluowing  his  body  towards 


nt  sculptures 
;sau(l  uatious 
l.attening  the  ', 
their  iuir  \n\)-  \ 
\a\\  sec  \\vvv-  | 
marks  of  this    I 

aularly  noticc- 
[ndiaus  of  the 
them,  ]mrticu- 
Ive.    It  would 
that  a  sin-i-ular 
J  the  Brazilian 
ng  them.     Ilo 
is  pierced,  and 
.(lux-  or  button 


js,  is  seen  in  ihc    , 
Icording  to   the    |; 
Is  and  Clarl<e«    j 
long,    and  will    , 
A'cight,  or  from    ; 
•e  ctit  out  of  :i 
ly  white   cedar,    j 
iWheu  theyeni- 
\vithapadcl:e; 
the  can(x^  and, 
luwale  next  to 
[safety  the  high- 
oncern   in  scarf 
ivc  an  instant. 
Iher  movement, 
loat  on  her  side, 
ost:  the  man  to 
is  hody  towards 


TKIBES  WEST  OF  THE  MTSSTS.SlPri. 


477 


the  upper  side,  and,  sinking  his  ])addlc  deep  into  the  waves, 
appears  to  catch  the  water,  and  force  it  under  the  botit, 
which  the  same  stroke  pushes  on  with  great  velocity." 

They  subsist  principally  U})ou  llsh,  in  taking  wdiich 
they  arc  vciy  expert.  Their  nets  arc  made  of  silk-grass, 
or  of  the  fibrous  bark  of  the  white  cedar,  as  are  also  the 
lines  used  for  angling.  The  hooks  arc  procured  from  white 
traders,  but  in  earlier  times  were  manufactured  from  bone. 
Their  houses  are  described  as  large  and  commodious:  some 
of  them  are  said  by  Cox  to  be  "upwards  of  ninety  feet 
long,  and  thirty  to  forty  broad."  The  size  of  the  beams 
iisfd  in  the  construction  (jf  these  edifices,  as  well  as  tluit  of 
tlic  trunks  of  tr>-es  worked  into  canoes,  is  almost  incredi- 
ble, considering  the  miserable  tools  and  implements  in 
their  possession  previous  to  Eurtjpean  inlercourse. 

^riieir  household  r;:fi\iiurc  and  utensils  arc  rmfe  and 
simi)le;  in  their  }n'imitive  condition  they  boiled  their  fish 
ill  kettles  of  cedar  wood,  by  means  of  heated  stones  thrown 
into  the  water.  The  fire-place  is  a  hole  sunk  in  the  lloor, 
to  the  depth  of  about  twelve  inches,  under  the  aperture  iu 
the  roof  left  for  the  escape  of  smoke. 


CHAPTEIl  VI. 

THE  SIIOSHONKES,  OK  SNAKK  INDIANS THE  SIIOSHOKOES,  OR  ROOT- 
DIGGERS —  V:X1ENT  OF  COUNTRY  OCCUPIED  RY  THE    SNAKES — THE 
CAMANCHES  :   THEIR  HOHSEM  ANSHIP,  MODE  OF  I.IKE,  DWELLINGS, 
ETC. THE  PAWNEE  PICTS THE  NABAJOS  AND  MOqUES. 

Under  various  names,  and  presenting  a  great  variety 

;    in  habits  and  appearance,  according  to  the  nature  of  the 

country  they  inhabit,  the  great  race  of  Shoshonees  is  found 

scattered  over  the  boundless  wilderness,  from  Texas  to  the 


i-'  V 


('■  *  ;:■  ■ 


)'>. ■•'./'  *"','.' 


\' 


,.i„^. 


'■■  '^'"  "•*'■.  ill  ™, 


■'■  •  '  * 


J.  .**:.<»■      1..';'    '.1. 
Hi:  l^.  ,.:,,'■..  ■■ 


\j' 


478 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  A^^IEUICA. 


Columbia.  Tlicir  territory  is  bounded  on  the  novtli  and 
west  by  that  of  their  liereditary  enemies,  the  Bhickieet 
and  Crows,  tlio  tribes  alhed  to  the  great  Dacotah  or  Sioux 
family,  and  the  Indians  removed  westward  from  the 
United  States. 

Those  who  dwell  amid  the  rugged  and  inhospitable 
reii'ions  of  the  great  Eockv  Mountain  chain,  know  u  as  Shos- 
hokoes  or  Hoot-Diggers,  are  the  most  destitute  and  miser- 
able portion  of  all  the  North  American  tribes.  They  have 
no  liorses,  and  nothing  but  the  rudest  native  implements 
for  securing  game.  '^^I'hey  are  harmless,  and  exceedingly 
timid  and  sh}^,  choosing  J'or  their  dwellings  the  most  re- 
mote and  unexplored  retreats  of  the  mountains,  whither 
they  fly  in  terror  at  the  a})proach  of  strangers,  wluMlu'r 
whites  or  Indians.  "These  ioi'lorn  beings,"  says  l>'ving, 
"fornnng  a  mere  link  between  human  nature  and  the 
brute,  have  been  looked  (h)wn  upon  with  pity  and  con- 
tempt by  the  Creole  trappers,  who  have  given  them  the 
ap})ellatiou  of  'fes  digues  de  pitii;^  or  'the  objects  of  pity.' 
They  appear  more  worthy  to  be  calltHl  the  wild-men  of 
the  mountains." 

Although  living  in  a  climate  where  they  experience 
great  se\'i'rity  of  cold,  inese  miserable  people  are  very 
iiisulliciently  protected  either  by  eli)lhing  or  comfortable 
huts.  Of  a  party  seen  by  lionneville  upon  the  plain  he- 
low  Powder  Kiver,  that  traveller  remarks:  "'JMicy  live 
without  any  further  protection  from  the  inclemency  of  the 
season,  than  a  sort  of  break-weather,  about  three  feet  hiuli, 
composed  of  sage,  (or  wormwood,)  and  erected  aroiuid 
them  ill  the  shape  of  a  half-moon."  This  material  also 
furnishes  them  with  fuel.  Many  were  seen  carrying  about 
with  them  a  slow  match,  made  of  twisted  bark.  "  When- 
ever they  wished  to  warm  themselves,  they  would  gather 
together  a  little  wormwood,  apply  the  match,  and  in  an 
instant  produce  a  cheering  blaze." 


>*  > 


■1  RIBt-S  WEST  OF  THE  JllSSISSIPri. 


479 


They  live  princij)ally,  as  tlieir  name  implies,  upon  roots 
and  a  preparation  of  certain  wild  seeds;  but  by  the  aid  of 
their  dogs — a  lean  and  miserable  breed — they  eateh  rabbits 
and  other  small  animals.  They  occasionally  take  ante- 
lopes by  the  following  singular  contrivance:  An  inelo- 
sure  of  several  acres  in  extent  is  formed  by  piling  up  a 
row  of  wormwood  brush,  oidy  about  three  feet  in  height. 
Into  this  the  game  is  decoyed  or  driven  and  the  entrance 
closed.  Tho  men  then  pursue  the  aniuuds  on  foot,  round 
and  round  the  confined  space,  (fresh  recruits  entering  upon 
the  duty  as  the  first  become  weary),  until  they  are  com- 
pletely tired  down,  and  can  be  killed  with  clubs.  The 
antelopes  ne\  er  attempt  to  leap  over  the  frail  barrier. 

Those  Shoshokoes  who  live  in  the  vicinity  of  streams, 
add  to  their  sniiplies  by  fishing,  and  some  of  them  are 
?iilUciently  skilful  and  jjrovident  to  cure  stores  of  fish  for 
winter;  but  in  general  the  season  of  scarcity  finds  them 
wretchedly  unpi  ovidcul.  '*  They  were  destitute,"  says  Bon- 
neville, of  a  party  encountered  by  him,  "of  the  necessary 
coveriug  to  pr<:»teet  tiiem  from  the  weather;  and  seemed 
to  be  in  uusophisticated  ignorance  of  any  other  propriety 
or  advantage  in  the  use  of  clothing.  One  old  dame  had 
absolutely  nothing  on  her  person  but  a  thread  round  her 
neck,  from  which  was  pendant  a  solitary  bead." 

The  Shoshonees,  as  distinct  from  the  lloot-Diggers, 
althovigh  their  condition  varies  greatly  with  their  locality, 
are  a  free,  bold,  and  wandering  race  of  hunters.  In  the 
hutfalo  plains  their  life  is  much  like  that  of  the  Sioux, 
Blackfeet,  Crows,  &c.;  while  in  the  less  favored  districts, 
among  the  mountains  and  deserts,  they  approach  more 
nearly  to  their  kindred  Shoshokces.  Tlie  country  inhabit- 
ed by  them  is  of  such  vast  extent,  and  Iris  been  so  imper- 
fectly explored,  that  material  for  aceura'.e  classification  of 
the  Snake  tribes  is  entirely  wanting.  Very  interesting 
des(jriptions  and   anecdotes  of  these  Indians   arc  to  be 


,?■. :  ^.  VI 


r'\tm":.: 


h  v;  , 


'"ir,^ 


»       *.y    ' 


''■'ii-.i'y! 


',  J  ' 


4S0 


J.VDIAX  n\Ci:^  OK  AMKKICA. 


fi'''(l  i.iColoiH'l  I*'i'i'iii()iitV  notes  of  travel  aiiil  explora- 
IV. is;  ii!  Mr.  SeliooK.Tari's  valiialile  e(iiii|iciiil  of  Iiiilian 
1>.,-;     'ical  ainl  statistical  inl'oriiiatiiiii ;   aial  in  the  eiUeilaiii 


a  "V  -iitnres  ni'  ( 'aiilain  JJoiiiievil 


'I'l 


le 


le  i'ei:'i(iii  ti'iianlrW  ]i\  the  roNiiiL;'  trincs  ulm  arc 


e  dl    >ii;ik  'S,    IS  thus   hii 


1 


iiieliiileil    iimler  the   i^eiieral    tit 
down  in  Si'hi  MiJerat't's  aliDve-menlidneil  jiiililieation  :  exclu- 
sive <il'  llh'.-e   rcsiiliic^'   uiion    the  Snake   i'i\'i'i',    'Mhcv  em- 


i|     bfai'i'  all  the   tcn'il'.)r\-  df  the   (ii'cat  South    i'ass,  hel 


ween 


llic  Mis.~i.-.-i)i|ii  vallev  and  ihc  waters  of  the  rolundtia.  liy 
which  tlic  laud  ni'  cai'axan  cunnnunieation  with  <  )re,ti'ou 
and  ( 'aliliiiMiia  is  now.  of  is  destined  hcicnrtcf,  to  he  main- 
tained. '■^  ■'•■   Tuder  tin"  name  of  ^'auniatiek-ara,  or  IJool- 


Katers.  and  Hoiiaeks,  tl 


ic\    occUpV 


with  the  I  talis,  the  vast 


t'levalcii   hasin  ol 


the   (iiv;it    Salt    I. 


cNtcndinL!'  soUili 


and  west  1o   the  border.-  of   New    Mexii'o  and   Calil'orni; 


]id'or 


luiilion    rt>ceutlv  receiN'ed   denotes   that    Ihe  lane'u; 


IS    spoken     liv    hands    m    the    tz'oM-minc    rcLiion    of  tln> 
Saei'ameuto."' 

hat  ol' the 

c 


1  he  most  iioleil  liraiieh  o|  the  whole  hunilv  is  t 
Linanehes.  "  who  have  dv'.-cendcil  east  wardK'  into  the  '\\'\- 


an  plains  al  unknown  )iei'iods  o|' their  history."     Anahjirv 


111   ]aimiiaL;e    is 

nation  with  the  Slioshonce: 


a,ll   that   attests   the    loriiier    uiiitv  ol' 


liiri 


he    Canianehes    inhabit   a   coimti'v  where    bisons   and 


WlIM    liol'Se 


aJioMiid,  and  llieir  Li'cnei'al  lialnts  ami  inoilcdi 


lill 


b  are  con.seijiu-iit  l\'  \'cr\-  similar  to  those  ol    the  western 


S 


loii.N  and  othi  r  race-  (jI'  t  lu'  prairie 


As  b.,1.1  and  .-1 


fill  riders,  ihey  ;irc  said  to  have  no  e(piii!s,  at  K'ast  in  Moitli 
America:  some  of  their  feats  oi'  horsemanship  appear 
almost  supci'iialural  to  a  slraii.ii'cr.  <  hie  of  the  most  siii- 
<nilar  of  lliese  is  that  of  tiirowiuL;'  the  whole  liodv  iijxiu 
one  side  of  the  hoisc,  i-o  as  to  be  entirely  shielded  I'idiu 
the  missile  of  an  enemy,  with  the  exception  of  th(>  heel,  by 


\v 


liicli  tliev  still  luainlain  their  liold,  and 


ai'c  enahled  to 


;ni'l  rxi'l'ii'H- 

ml   i.r   liiiliaii     II 

the  fiitii'taiii      j^ 

ii 
trilics  \viu>  arc    ji 

<    is  thus  laiil     ; 

ication  :  fM-lu-    '; 

(T,   'Mhrv  cm- 

I'ass,  lii'lwrcu  , 
,.  (,'()lmnl>ia,  ^,V  i 
,u  Willi  Oregon 
■,,.,•_  1,.  lie  main- 
rk-ara.  "r  lJ<H.t- 
.  i  talis,  thr  vast 
.NtciHlin.L;-  suutli 

and  Calil'oriiia. 
at    tlir  laii-uaw 
i',Mji()ii    (if   tlu' 

Iv  is  tliatol' tlic 


Iv  into  til'' 


'IVx- 


lorv 


A 


nalov'V 


■  r    unilv  *>i 


tint 


llii-i'o   liisi'iis   am 
lils  ami  iiKxl''  t' 


if    tllO    west. 'I'll 

is  1)(.1<1  ami  skill- 
Noith 


it    Irast    111 


■inaii^liil'    :>1 


iicav 


,,',■  till'  UK'st  sin- 
IimIc  IhhIv  UlHiU 
Iv  sliirldi'il  I'loiu 
,'n  ul'tlu-  lif'-l,  by 
lilcil  Ui 


/''  m..  "''^  iv'(A 


arc  ciia 


f1- 


■tr 


V. 


Jl>; 


TRIBKS  WEST  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI. 


481 


n'giiin  tlicir  seat  in  an  instiiiit.  'I'lic  nianncr  in  wliicli  this 
seemingly  inipossihic  position  is  ivtain^'d,  waH  asecrtained 
by  Mr.  Catlin  to  Ik-  as  follows:  ''I  ionnd,"  .says  lie,  "on 
examination,  that  a  short  liair  hahcr  was  j)asscd  around 
under  the  neek  of  tlu;  iiorso,  and  both  en<ls  tightly  braided 
into  the  mane,  on  tiie  withers,  leaving  a  loo[)  to  hang  un- 
der the  nei'k,  and  agninst  the  breast,  whieli,  being  (sanght 
up  in  the  hand,  makes  a  sling  into  wliieh  the  elbow  falls, 
taking  the  weight  of  the  body  on  the  middle  of  tlie  upitcr 
arm.  Itito  tliis  k)oj)  the  rider  drops  suddenl}'  and  fear- 
k'ssly,  leaving  his  lieel  to  liang  over  the  baek  of  the  horse, 
to  steady  him,  and  also  to  restore  him  when  lie  wishes  to 
regain  his  upright  i)osition  on  the  liorse's  baek." 

'I'lie  fncban  rider,  as  he  sweeps,  at  full  speed,  past  his 
enemy,  in  tliis  uiniatural  attitude,  is  said  to  manage  his 
long  lanee,  and  his  bow  and  arrow,  with  nearly  the  same 
facility  as  if  fairly  mounted,  lie  will  disehargc  his  arrow 
over  the  baek  of  the  horse,  or  even  his  neek!  The  Ca- 
niauches,  li'om  constant  hors(>-baek  exereise,  have  lost  that 
agility  and  grace  which  characterize  the  North  American 
Indian,  in  his  natural  state.  They  are  awkward  and  un- 
gainly in  their  movements  when  on  foot,  but  when  mounted 
upon  the  animals  that  have  become  almost  a  partof  them- 
.'^clves,  nothing  can  exceed  the  lightness  and  freedom  of 
their  j)osture  and  movements.  The  wild  horses  are  taken, 
as  usual,  by  the  las.«!o,  and  are  at  first  disabled  by  being 
"choked  down,"  as  it  is  termed.  When  the  hunter  has 
thus  conquered  and  enfeebled  his  prize,  ho  proceeds  to  tic 
his  fore  feet  together,  and,  loosening  the  noo.se  about  his 
neek,  takes  a  turn  with  it  about  the  lower  jaw,  and  com- 
pletes the  subjection  of  the  animal  by  closing  his  eyes 
with  his  hand  and  breathing  in  his  nostrils.  After  this,  little 
difficulty  is  experienced;  the  horse  submits  to  be  mounted, 
and  is  soon  entirely  under  the  control  of  his  tormentor. 
The  Indians  are  severe  and  cruel  riders,  and  the  ease  of 
31 


I'. 

,.^    ^^, 

11 

'9 

III 

482 


INDIAN   HACKS   Ol-'   AMKIUCA. 


sii[)plyiii<,'  tlio  loHS  'M'  11  liDfHO  pri;vt'iits  tlmt  rc^fiird  fiir  liis 
Hiillity  uikI  (iiii'c  lor  liis  weUiire  clsi-w  licrt*  I'liriiisliril  byscH'. 
iiihTcst. 

'I'lic  Catiiiiiic'lii'S  an*  I'ssciitially  a  wailiki'  race,  and  tlio 
whole  history  of  tin*  si'ltliMuciit  iiiid  ()('cu|iatioii  ol'  Tcxum 
is  rcpU'U'  witli  talc's  ol'  their  (..'ourafjfti  luid  prowess.  Thcic 
sooiiis  to  1)0  reason  to  fear  that  dillicidties  will  still  con- 
timie  tet  arise  In'tweeii  Ihciii  and  the  white  settlers  of  llic 
eoiintry  until  the  whole  tribe,  like  so  many  in  the  nllvv 
states,  shall  he  di'iven  li'om  their  ten-itoiy  orextiTminateil. 
Almost  the  only  man  who  has  ever  been  able  to  eoniinand 
their  endurin;^  adiniiMtion  and  res|)ec<^,  and  to  exercise  a 
parental  oontrtd  over  these  wild  rovers  of  the  west,  is  tlir 
redoubteil  champion  of  Texan  independence,  (ieneral 
llouslon.  Ninnberless  tales  are  told  of  the  inlluence  of 
his  presence,  or  even  his  name,  in  (puetin<^  border  trou- 
bles betwecin  •whites  and  Indians.  Xo  one  ki.tws  tln' 
Carnanches  belter  than  Ilon.ston,  and  he  i^ives  abmnhnit 
testimony  tg  many  excellent  traits  in  their  ehai'acter. 
Aeeordiny  to  liis  n'pn-sentation.s,  the  ^■eiierality  of  dis- 
turbances which  have  arisen  ui)on  tlu'ii' borders  are  attrib- 
utable rather  to  injustice  and  yioleiiee,  on  the  ])art  nF 
the  white  sett li>r.s,  than  to  the  native  ferocity  oi'  treacliciy 
of  the  Indians. 

The  d\vellin,i.^s  of  the  Camanehes,  like  tlios<i  of  other 
]irairie  tribes,  consist  of  tents  of  bnllalo-skin.^,  and  aiv 
tran.^ported  from  place  to  place  in  the  luiumer  descrih  d 
in  a  former  chapter.  The  tribe  next  adjoining'  iheni,  the 
Pawnee  Picts,  living  about  the  extreme  head-waters  of  tin' 
Ked  Iliver,  on  the  borders  of  tin;  lloeky  Mountains,  in- 
habit wigwams  of  jioles  thatched  with  praii'ie-grass,  of 
very  picturesque  form  and  arrangement.  These  people 
are  said  to  be  entirely  distinct  I'rom  the  Pawnees  on  the 
Platte  river;  they  arc  in  a  state  of  friendly  tdlianee  with  the 
Camanehes.     Unlike  the  latter  ti'ibe,  th(^y  cultivate  large 


it  r(';j:!iril  for  his 
uiiii.sUccl  by  soil'- 

kc  nu'.o,  ant]  tlio 

l|l!ltil>ll  ol'  'I'cxiw 
prowoss.     Tlicro 
I'.H  will  .^till  coil- 
to  81'ttU'rs  (if  llic 
any  in   the  iiMri' 
(ir  I'Ntcriiiiiiatcij. 
;ilili'  to  colllliiainl 
luiil  to  iwcri'isc  a 
t'  tlio  west,  is  the 
•inlciu'C.    (iciii'i'al 
'  tlic   iiillnciin-  (if 
Ling  b()i'«U'r  tmu- 
>  one    kii')\vs  tlii' 
('  ti,iv('S  ahuiidaiit 
their    charartci'. 
•lu'i'ality  ol'  clis- 
inh'i'S  HIT  at  trill- 
on  the  part  ol' 
•ity  oi'  Ircai'hi'iy 

thoso  of  otiicr 

o-skins,  ami   an' 

iiannrr  doscrili  il 

linini!,'  thciii,  tlir 

(•ad-waters  ol'  the 

.V  Mountains,  in- 

prairie-grass,  of 

These  pcopk' 

Pawnees  on  the 

alliance  with  tlio 

"V  cultivate  hirge 


TUIUKH  WKrtT  OF  THE  MISHISSIl'lM. 


483 


(pjantities  of  iniii/e,  beaiiM,  pmnplciiis,  &e.,  and,  vvlint  with 
their  abundant  supply  of  g:une,  enjoy  no  little  prosperity. 


Tn  New  Mexieo,  besides  the  Utnlis,  Apiuihes,  and  other 
Indian  tribes  heretolbre  mentioned,  are  two  very  singular 
eonuuunities:  the  Nabajos  and  \b)([ui'S.  The  lirst  of  these 
lead  a  pastoral  life  between  the  rivers  San  Juan  and  Gila. 
They  arc  spoken  of  in  a  eoinnuuiieation  of  (lovernor 
Charles  Bent,  in  1810,  as  "an  indnsli'ious,  intelligent,  and 
warlike  tribe  of  Indians,  who  cultivate  tlie  soil,  and  raise 
sullicient  grain  ami  fruits  of  various  kinds  llir  their  own 
corisuniptioiK  They  are  the  owners  of  largt;  (locks  and 
herds  of  cattle,  sheej),  horses,  luuh^s,  and  asses.  It  is 
estimated,  that  the  tribe  possesses  ;jO,(J(»(I  h(!ad  of  horned 
cattle,  500,000  head  of  shei«p,  aud  10,000  bead  of  horses, 
mules,  and  asses.  *  *  They  manufacture  iweelleut  coarse 
blankets,  aud  eoanse  woolen  goods  for  wearing  a[)parel. 
*  ■"  ■"  'I'hey  have  in  their  ])ossessiou  many  men,  women, 
aud  ehildi'en,  taken  from  the  settlements  of  this  territiMy, 
whom  they  hold  and  Lroat  as  slaves.  *  *  The  Moques 
are  neighbours  of  the  Nabajos,  and  live  in  permanent  vil- 
lages, cultivate  grain  aud  fruits,  and  raise  all  the  varieties 
of  stock." — {SrliookntjVs  llislnrical  mid  Statistical  IiiJ'orma- 
tiun  conccriiin;/  (he  Tii<1!nn  Tribes), 

The  N  d)ajos  number  from  seven  to  fourteen  thousand 
•souls;  tin-  Moques  between  two  and  three  thousand.  Tlie 
two  tribes  are  at  enmity  with  each  other,  and  the  Moques 
have  been,  b  >  this  cause,  much  retUiced. 

The  following  description  of  the  personal  a[)pearaneo 
of  these  Indians,  (their  names  being  corru])t<'d  into  "Nab- 
bchocs,"  and  "Mawkeys,")  is  cited  by  ]\[crntosii,  in  liis 
"Origin  of  the  North  Ameriean  Indians,"  from  the  West- 
ern Democrat:  we  cannot  undertake  to  vouch  for  its  accu- 
racy.   After  describing  the  location  of  the  smaller  tribes, 


-:;;?1 


i 


■')' 


1 


484 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


the  article  proceeds:  "Not  far  distant  from  the  Mawkcys, 
and  in  the  sarrie  range  of  country,  is  another  band  of  the 
same  description,  called  Nabbehocs,  a  description  of  cither 
of  these  tribes,  will  answer  for  both.  They  have  been 
described  to  the  writer  by  two  men  in  whose  veracity  tlio 
fullest  confidence  may  be  placed:  they  say  the  men  arc 
of  the  common  stature,  with  light  flaxen  hair,  light-blue 
eyes,  and  that  their  skin  is  of  the  most  delicate  whiteness." 


UNITED    STATES    AND    TERRITORY. 


■r ,'  -I 


INDIAN    POPULATION 


'}i.-i: 


According  to  the  census  taken,  under  the  agency  of 
Mr.  Henry  R,  Sclioolcraft,  in  pursuance  of  the  act  of  Con- 
gress passed  in  March,  1847,  the  following  returns  were 
made  of  the  numbers  of  the  Indian  tribes  subject  to  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  United  States. 

The  grand  total  was  set  down  at  388,229,  and  about 
30,000  more  was  considered  a  probable  estimate  of  tribes 
inhabiting  districts  yet  unexplored.  Tlie  "  Ultimate  Con- 
solidated Tables  of  the  Indian  Population  of  the  United 
States,"  containing  the  results  of  the  proposed  invcstiga- 
tioii,  are  given  substantially  as  follows,  in  Schoolcraft's 
"History,  Condition,  and  Prospects  of  the  Indian  Tribes 
of  the  United  States :" 

1.  "Tribes  whose  vital  and  industrial  statistics  have  been  taken 
by  Bands  and  Families,  under  the  direction  of  the  act  of 
Congress,"  including  Iroquois,  Algonquins,  Appalachians,  and 
Eastern  Sioux, 34,704 

2.  "Tribes  of  the  new  States  and  Territories,  South  and  West, 
including  the  acquisitions  from  Mexico,  under  the  treaty  of 
Guadalupe  Hidalgo,"  viz:  of  Texas,  New  Mexico,  California, 
Oregon,  Utah,  and  Florida,  and  consisting  of  Canianches, 
Apaches,  Utiihs,  Slioslionees  or  Snake  Indians,  &c.  .    .     .  183,042 


1:1 


P-v-Jl 


,^'>,.':  ■■"■A 


486 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMEKICA. 


3.  Tribes  between  the  Mississippi  and  the  Rocky  Mountains,  to  tlie 
northward  of  Texas  and  New  Mexico,  viz : 


Assinabuins,  south  or  lat.  49  (leg. 
ArapahocB,      .... 
Absarokos,  or  Crows, 
A'lirickarcps,   .... 


I,n00 )  Miainics,  . 
3,50<)   Missouris,    . 
4,000  i  Munsees,  . 
1,500   Ottuwas,  west, 


Blackfect, 13,000  S  Otoca, 

niood  Indians  (feu>  reach  the  Missouri)  500 !  Oinahas, 

Brothertons, COoi  OgeUahs, 

Cherokees, 20,000  j  Pawnees,     . 

Creeks, 25,000   Poiicas,     . 

Chickasaws, 5,000   Pottawatoinies, 

Clioctaws, 16,000   Peorias,    . 

ChcyenncB, 2,500 1  Piankesli'.ws, 

Caddoes, 2,000  J  Qimppan, 

Chippewtts,wc3t,  and  Red  River,  nortli,  I.-IIX)   Shuwanees, 


Cayiigas  and  Iroquois,  west, 

Delawares, 

Foxes  and  3ncs, . 

Gros  Ventres,  . 

Kiowas,       .... 

Kicknpoos, 


30  j  i^ioux  of  the  Mississippi  (not  enuino- 
1,500       rated  in  No.  1),    .... 
.    2,400  1  Sioux  of  tl\e  Mis.souri  (noton'imerated 

3,000 1     in  No.  i;, 

.    2,0(K)   Stockbridaes, 

000  i  Seniinoles, 

Knnzas, 1,600  |  Swan  Creek  and  Itliiok  River  Cliippe- 

Kaskaskias, 2(|0  j     wiis  tnot  enunieruted  in  tlie  .VI(,'on- 

Menotnonies, 2,,500  j     ([uiii  yroupe),       ....  Cllil 

Mandans,  (?) 30o|Telans, 3,UilO 

Minitarees, 2,.'i00 1  Weas, ;:jil 


500 
500 
200 

3I)U 
501) 

2,niN) 

1,500 

17,001) 

"111) 

3,2110 
l.-)0 
21)0 
401) 

1,1)00 

9,001) 

5„'iOI) 

400 

L.'iOO 


Within  the  old  States  ai-e  the  foliowii.g  remnants  of  ancient  <i-ibes: 

Maine, 956  j  VirKiniu— Nottoways,  mixed  with  the 

Miissacliusetts, 847  j     African  rn  ;.!, 4',) 

Rliode  Island— Niirrannnselts,      .  420 1  South  Carolinu— Catawbas,  ,        .        .    200 

Connecticut— Molietians,   .        .        .        400 )  Noil!' C:.n)lina-('iilawb;i9,        .        .        2.')0 

(  Tojjellicr  with  Cherokees  included  in  ioiom  i- 
40 !     table. 


New  York— Hesiili'S  the  Iroquois,  Ije- 
fore  enumerated,       .        .        .       . 


•<  R^:;-  :■>•  U 


r^- 


Mountains,  to  the 


1 1 


500    1; 

.       500  \ 

200  1 
3(10 

500  ]  j 

.  9,noo    ji 

Iv'iOU      '  i 
.  17,000      ■  ' 
700 

.   3,aio 
•Joo 

400 

.    1,000 


ssippi  0'"l  emimu- 


ii(iioteinimeriit('<l 


(liick  River  Cliippo- 
rutcd  ill  llio  AlKiJii- 


0,000 

.'i.rioH 

4110 
1.500 


3,001) 
::5I) 


s  of  ancient  tribes: 

HJ3,  mixod  Willi  tlio 

■I'l 

liiliiwbas,  .  .  .  "00 
:iiliiwl)iu%  .  •  -■'>" 
i>pkt!09  iiicludod  in  lOiim  r 


SOUTH    AMERICA. 


TRIBES  OF  THE  WEST  INDIES, 

ANT)  THE  NORTHERN  PROVINCES  OP  SOUTH   AMERICA. 


CHAPTER   I. 

INniANS     FIHST    SKEN     BY    fOM-.M  BI'.S  — r,AM)IN('T    AT    fJUAXAHANI — 

NATIVKS  OF  C'l'HA KMBASSV  TO  TIIH  (iKAND  KHAN  ! Dl.SCOVKKY 

OK  HAVTI,  AND    INTEHCOURSK    WITH  THE    NATIVES — GUACANA- 

UAKI WRECK    OF    THE    AD.MIKAI.'s    VESSEL HONESTY  AND 

HOSI'ITA  .:TY  ok  the    NATIVE    INHAHITANTS TRADE  FOR 

GOLD mil  I, DING    OF    THE     FORTRESS    OF    LA    NAVIDAD 

—  DEI'AnTURE  OF  THE   NINA THE  CIGl'AYANS DIS- 
ORDERS AND    DESTKl'CTION    OF  THE    GARRISON  AT 
LA    NAVIDAD FORT    OF    ST.    THOMAS. 

At  tlic  time  of  the  discovery  of  the  New  World  by 
Columbus,  the  Larger  West  India  islands  and  the  Baha- 
mas were,  for  the  most  part,  inhabited  by  a  kindly  and 
simple-hearted  race.  Although  living  in  the  most  prim- 
itive state  of  nature,  unclothed,  and  possessed  of  only  the 
rudest  weapons  and  implements,  they  do  not  appear  to 
have  been  defunent  in  intellectual  caj)aeity.  The  delight- 
ful climate  of  their  country,  and  the  sjiontancous  fruitful- 
iiess  of  the  soil,  removed  the  ordinary  incentives  to  labor 
and  ingenuity.  The  rudest  huts  of  branches,  reeds,  and 
palm-leaf  thatch,  with  hammocks  (originally  the  Indian 
word  "  hamacs ") -slung  between  the  posts,  fully  sufficed 
for  their  dwellings.  Protection  from  the  rain  was  alone 
necessary. 


•   I'.i 


:.:jy 


■\r' 


I  '    ' 


i.l. 


488 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


They  were  of  good  figure  and  proportion,  tlicir  foreheads 
Avcrc  high  and  well  formed,  and  the  general  cast  of  their 
countenance  and  conlbrmation  of  their  features  agreeable 
and  regular. 

The  great  admiral  landed,  for  the  first  lime  since  the 
days  of  "the  Nortlnuen"  that  any  European  had  visited 
tlie  Western  World,  at  Guanahani,  San  Salvador,  or  Cat 
Ishmd,  on  the  12th  of  October,  1492.  The  shore  was 
lined  with  naked  savtiges,  who  lied  at  the  approach  of  the 
boats;  but  watching  from  a  distance  the  inioi.iprehensible 
ceremony  of  taking  })ossession,  and  the  relJi.!!"'-irf  exercises 
ol  tlianksgiving,  })eribrmed  hy  tlx,'  Strang,  rs,  fear  soon 
gave  ])lace  to  reverential  curiosity.  !i'  imy  thing  could 
excite  tlieir  wonder  in  a  iiijhor  degree  '^nu  the  majestic 
ap})roach  of  the  ships,  it  uiiglit  wcV  l;t,  m-  splendor  of 
the  Spanish  dress  and  aims,  the  •, rang*.'  tM..pK'\ion,  and 
the  thick  beards  of  tlie  stranger;^  who  ;a rived  in  them. 
The  inui!)  1,-'  soon  began  to  gatlier  round  tlie  little  IkumI, 
throv.'ing  iheuiM.:!",'  upon  the  earth  in  token  of  .submi.s- 
sioi  and  r -pcci,  an'  worshipping  the  Sj)aniards  as  god.-; 
or  divine  messengers.  An  nothing  but  kindnes.^  aj)j)e;uvd 
in  the  demeanor  of  the  .strangers,  the  native.-;  grew  mon' 
familiar,  and,  with  unl)oundetl  aduiiration,  touched  a::d 
examined  tiicir  dress  and  beards. 

Columbus  still  further  won  the  good-will  of  tlie  island- 
ers by  a  judicious  distribution  of  sueii  brilliant  beads  and 
toys  as  e\er  attract  tlie  eve  of  the  savau'c.  iS'tjlhimr  dc- 
lighted  them  so  much  as  hawks'-bells,  of  wiio.-^e  plea.sant 
tiidcling,  when  suspended  I'nMu  their  arms  and  neeks,  they 
were  never  weary.  The  next  day,  laying  asidi;  all  iear, 
tlie  Indians  came  out  to  the  ships,  swimming  or  paddling 
in  tladr  canoes.  They  bi'ought  such  little  articles  of  tiado 
..irf  they  posscs.sed;  Inills  of  cotton  yarn,  parrots,  ;iiul  ea.s- 
sava  bread  (made  ii'om  the  yuca  root);  eager  to  trallio, 
upon  any  terin.s,  for  Kuropean  commodities,     (.iolden  orna- 


tliciv  forclieads 
•al  cast  of  thoii- 
,tuiX'S  asroeable 


\iiiic  since  the    | 
can  liad  visited 
alvador,  or  Cat 
The  shore  was 
approach  of  the 
ic»->i.ti)ivliciisil)le 
ligi<i'.;s  exercises 
igjrs,  fear  soon 
my  thing  could 
I'ln  the  niajrstie 
M'  sj)le!ulor  of 
oi..ple.\ion,  and 
urived  in  them, 
tiie  little  lia.iid, 
,(jken  of  s\d)niis- 
aniards  as  j:;oiis 
idnes.i  apjieared 
lives  grew  more 
tuuehed  a::d 


.)ii. 


I  of  the  ishuid- 
liant  beads  and 
JSolhing  de- 
wiiose  pleasant 
and  nt'cks,  they 
usidc!  all  li'ar. 
ung  or  i)addling 
articles  of  ti'ado 
ari'(jts,  and  eas- 
eager  to  tralfu', 
(/lulden  onia- 


(  II  li  I  s  /  (/  /'  //  f;  ft    <  11  I.  V M  H  n  s. 


<».-t  _ 


■]■  -t 


'U\>^ 


TKIBES  OF  THE  WEST  INDIES,  ETC. 


489 


menta  worn  in  the  noses  of  some  of  them  at  once  aroused 
tho.  oupidltj  of  the  Spaniards,  who  eagerly  bought  them 
up,  and  made  innahy,  by  sigii.s,  as  to  \vhei)ee  the  material 
Avas  brought.     This  was  explained  to  be  at  the  southward. 
In  his  fui'ther  cruise  among  the  Bahamas,  in  the  vain 
search  for  gold,  Columbus  pursued  the  most  humane  and 
gcnilc  policy  towards  the  natives,  and  their  gratitude  and 
delight  at  his  caresses  and   presents   knew  no  bounds. 
Equally  generous,  they  were  ever  ready  to  proller  to  the 
Spaaiartls  all  their  little  wealth  of  cotton,  fruits,  and  tame 
parrots.     Seven  of  the  natives  of  Guauahani  were  taken 
on  board  the  vessels  upon  the  dep;ii1ure  from  ^hr.^  island. 
Tl.e  admiral  had  no  doubt  but  tliiit  he  hn<l  i.ii'  .icd  the 
islands  (jf  the  Asiatic  coast,  and,  in  acourdance  with  iliis 
mistake,  bestowed  the  ej>ithct  of  Indians  upon  the  inhab- 
itants.    As  he  came  in  sighi  of  Cuba,  he  supposed  that  he 
had  at  last  reached  Ci]:)ango,      This  opinion  was  fuially 
changed,  from  a  misaiJpreliension  of  communications  from 
the  natives  on  board,  to  a  firm  belief  that  this  was  the 
main  land  of  the  continent  of  Asia,  an  error  of  which 
Columbus  was  never  disabused. 

The  inhabitants  appeared  rather  more  advanced  in  the 
arts  than  tliose  before  seen,  but,  to  the  intense  disappoint- 
ment of  all  on  board  the  vessels,  none  of  them  were  })os- 
scssed  of  any  gold.  Two  embassadors  were  sent  by 
Columbus  to  explore  the  interior,  and  to  visit  the  court  of 
the  prince  of  the  country,  whom  his  imagination  led  him 
to  conclude  must  be  none  other  than  the  G  rand  Klian !  A 
rude  Indian  village,  of  about  one  thousand  iniiabitants, 
naked  savages,  like  those  of  the  coast,  was  all  tiiat  was 
discovered  by  these  emissaries.  The}'  were  reet.'ived  and 
entertained  with  the  greatest  icindncss  and  reverence,  but 
were  unable  to  conununicate  with  tiie  natives  otherwise 
than  by  signs.  The  most  interesting  report  made  by  them 
upon  their  return,  was  of  a  •■nstoni  theii  unkno«-n  to  tlie 


f' 


X .  (• 


?>3 


r,:.^. 


■'      f'.    ! 


I' 


490 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AMEllICA. 


whites,  viz :  tliat  of  smoking.  The  name  of  tobacco,  given 
by  the  natives  to  tlic  cigars  which  they  used,  was  ever 
after  ajtplied  to  the  ])lant. 

From  Cuba,  Columbus  took  several  Indians,  men  and 
women,  on  board,  at  liis  dei)arturc,  that  they  might  be 
taught  Spanish,  and  thereafter  serve  as  interpreters.  \n 
December,  he  discovered  the  island  of  Ilayti,  named  by 
him  llispaniola,  and  landing  on  tlio  I'itli  of  the  month 
he  raised  a  cross  in  token  of  taking  possession.  All  the 
inhabitants  had  fled  into  the  interior;  but  a  young  female 
was  taken  by  some  roving  sailors,  and  brought  on  board. 
She  was  sent  on  shore  with  abundant  [U'esents  of  ornanients 
and  clothing,  to  give  a  favofa])le  report  of  tlie  whites  to 
her  own  people.  Next  day  a  i)arty  was  sent  to  visit  the 
Indian  town  uimn  the  bank  of  the  Eiver  of  llii'ee  Rivers. 
1'he  town  consisted  of  about  one  thousand  Ikjuscs,  froia 
which  the  occupants  fled  at  the  sight  of  the  Spaniards. 
They  were  Anally  reassured,  and  induced  to  return.  Some 
two  thousand  of  them  made  their  appearan('(>,  advancing 
slowly,  with  evcy  gesture  and  expression  of  humiliation 
and  respect. 

"■Jlic  woman  whom  the  Spaniards  had  the  day  before 
entertained,  had  not  failed  to  report  mngnificent  descrip- 
tions of  her  captors  and  their  vessels.  The  tokens  which 
she  brought  back,  in  the  shajjc  of  beads,  hawks'-bells,  &e., 
Averc  yet  more  convincing  evidence  of  the  bcnefieence  and 
wealth  of  the  Spaniards.  She  now  came  forward,  with  her 
husband,  at  the  head  of  a  tlirong  of  Indians,  and  every 
expression  of  gratitude  and  good-will  was  lavished  by 
them  upon  their  guests.  Every  thing  that  the  poor  natives 
possessed  was  freely  at  the  Spaniards'  service. 

Columbus  writes  of  tliesc  islanders:  "True  it  is  that 
after  they  felt  confldence  and  lost  their  fear  of  us.  they 
were  so  liberal  with  what  they  po.ssessed  that  it  would  not 
be  believed  by  those  who  had  not  .seen  it.     If  any  tiling 


'    1 


TlilBES  OF  TUE  WEST  INDIES,  P^TC. 


491 


was  asked  of  them,  they  never  said  no ;  but  rather  gave  it 
chcerfullv,  and  showed  as  much  amity  as  if  they  gave 
their  very  hearts." 

The  early  voyagers,  and  till  i'ontem])orary  writers,  agree 
that  this  was  the  charaeter  of  nearly  all  the  inhabitants  of 
the  West  India  Islands,  with  the  exception  of  the  Caribs.  A 
more  guileless,  innocent,  contented  race  has  never  existed, 
and  never  were  strangers  welcomed  to  a  fcjreign  shore  with 
more  genuine  and  kindly  hos[)itality;  but  what  a  return 
did  they  receive  for  their  friendliness  and  submission! 

Coasting  along  towards  tlie  cast,  Columbus  landed  at 
Acul,  and  held  I'riendly  communion  with  the  iidiabitant;^, 
whose  first  fears  were  easily  dispelled.  The  same  scenes 
of  mutual  presents  and  hospitalilies  that  characterized  the 
former  landings  were  here  repeated.  The  v/hole  of  that 
region  of  country  was  under  the  command  of  a  great 
caci<[ue,  named  (iuiicanagari,  from  whom  the  Spaniards 
now,  [\)v  the  first  time,  received  messengers,  inviting  thcni 
to  visit  him,  and  olfering  various  curious  })resents.  Among 
these  articles,  were  st)me  specimens  of  rude  work  in  gold. 

Wliile  pursuing  his  c(jurse  eastward,  with  the  intentioji 
!  of  anchoring  in  a  harbor  described  as  near  the  residence 
of  the  cacique,  Cohunbus  had  the  misfortune  to  be  cast 
away  upon  a  sand-bar.  No  shipwrecked  marincM's  ever 
received  mow  prompt  and  eflicient  relief  than  was  innne- 
diatcl}-  extended  by  (Juacanagari  and  his  subjects.  Every 
thing  was  brought  to  huul  from  the  wreck,  and  guarded 
with  the  most  scrupulous  honesty.  The  cacique  himself, 
with  tears  in  his  eyes,  came  on  board  the  caravel  Nina, 
whither  the  admiral  and  his  crew  had  been  obliged  to  be- 
take themselves,  and  offered  every  assistance  in  his  power. 

With  res})ect  to  the  goods  brought  on  shore  in  the 
natives'  canoes,  "there  seemed,"  says  Mr.  Irving,  "even 
among  the  common  people,  no  disposition  to  take  advan- 
tage of  the  misfortune  of  the  strangers.     Although  they 


;. ;  f. 


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1 

492 


INDIAN'  HACKS  ()!•'  AMKIilCA. 


f'-f- 


, '   '!■ 


I 


beheld  wliiit  must,  in  their  eyes,  have  been  inostimable 
treasures,  east  as  it  were  U])on  their  shores,  and  open  to 
depredati(ni,  yet  there  was  not  the  least  atttnnpt  to  pilfci', 
nor,  in  transi)ortin^  the  elVects  fi'oin  the  shi|),  had  they 
ai)pro))riatcd  the  most  trilling  artiele;  on  the  eontrary,  a 
general  sympatliy  was  visible  in  their  countenaiux'S  and 
actions;  and,  to  have  witnessed  their  eoneern,  one  wouhl 
have  supi)osed  the  misfortune  had  ha}){)ened  to  themselves." 

The  Spaniards,  wearied  with  long  and  i)rofitless  voy- 
aging, now  revelled  in  the  enjoyment  of  true  Indian  hos- 
jiilality.  'I'he  caei([ue,  wluj  was  regarded  with  tlu;  utmost 
love  and  reverenee  by  his  subjeets,  eontinued  his  kind 
oiliees,  and  his  people  w^ere  not  behind-hand  in  following  his 
example.  What  delighti'd  the  shipwreekcd  n\ariners  more 
than  any  other  cireuinstance,  was  the  nundx'r  of  gold 
ornaments  possessed  by  the  natives,  and  wliieh  they  wen? 
eager  to  dispart  Ibr  any  trifle  ol'  J'lnrojx'an  manuCaeture. 
lla\vks'-l)ells,  above  all  other  artieles  of  use  or  ornament, 
were  universally  in  demand.  "On  one  oeeasion,"  savs 
Irving,  "an  Indian  gave  half-a-handful  of  gold  dust  in  ex- 
ehange  lor  one  of  these  toys,  and  no  sooner  was  in  posses- 
sion of  it,  than  he  bounded  away  to  the  woods,  looking  often 
behind  him,  and  fearfid  that  the  Spaniard  would  i'i'j)ent  of 
having  parted  so  cheaply  with  sueh  an  inestimable  Jewel." 

The  natives  described  the  mountains  of  Cibao  as  tli(! 
prinei])al  source  whence  gold  was  to  be  obtained.  Valua- 
ble mines  were,  indeed,  afterwards  discovered  in  that 
region,  although  their  yield  fell  far  si lort  of  the  extravagant 
anticipations  of  the  Spaniards. 

A  portion  of  the  crew  of  the  wrecked  vessel  expressed 
a  strong  desire  to  remain  at  IIispani(.)la  until  another  ex- 
])edition  could  be  fitted  out  from  Spain,  upon  the  return 
of  the  Nina,  and  Columbus  was  not  displeased  with  the 
proposition,  ^fhc  Indians  were  overjoyed  at  the  ])ros[)ect 
of  retaining  some  of  the  powerful  strangers  in  their  island, 


■'hfri;i.-m^/ 


TRIHKS  OF  THE  WKST  INDIES,  P:TC. 


•iO.'i 


as  Ji  protection  against  tlu'  invasioiiHof  tlie  divii'lcd  Caribs, 
and  as  security  for  a  future  visit  from  Kuropean  vessels. 
They  had  seen,  witli  wonder  and  awe,  the  terrible  ettect  of 
the  discharge  of  artillery,  and  the  admiral  had  i)romised 
the  assistance  of  his  men  and  weapons  in  case  of  any  inr.oad 
from  an  enemy's  country. 

Tlic  little  fortress  of  La  Xu\  idad  was  s[)cedily  con- 
structed out  of  the  materials  of  the  stranded  vessel,  and 
fortified  with  her  cannon.  The  Indians  eagerly  lent  their 
assistance  in  the  labor  of  transportation  ami  building. 
Thirty-nine  men  were  chosen,  from  the  numerous  volun- 
teers Ibr  tliat  service,  as  a  garrison  for  the  fort:  to  tlieso 
Columbus  addressed  the  most  earnest  exhortations  to  dis- 
iTctio'i  ami  kindness  in  their  intercourse  witli  tlic  natives. 
llis  heart  might  well  be  touched  by  the  continued  courtesy 
and  affection  of  Ouacanauari,  who  could  not  refrain  from 
tears  at  parting  with  his  venerated  friend.  The  Nina 
sailed  on  the  -1th  of  January,  l-iOo.  Coasting  eastward, 
the  caravel  joined  company  with  the  Pinta,  under  Pinzon, 
of  wliich  no  accounts  had  been  for  S(nne  time  received,  and 
the  two  vessels  passed  cape  Caboon,  and  came  to  anchor  in 
the  bay  beyond.  Here  was  seen  a  tribe  of  Indians  very 
different  from  those  of  the  west  end  of  the  island.  From 
their  bold  and  warlike  apjiearanee,  their  bows  and  arrows, 
clubs,  and  wooden  swords,  the  S})aniards  took  them  for 
Caribs,  and,  unfortunately,  before  coming  to  a  friendly 
understanding  with  them,  a  skirmish  took  phiee,  in  which 
two  of  the  Indians  were  wounded.  Reconciliation  and 
friendly  intercourse  succeeded.  The  trilie  jtroved  to  bo 
that  of  the  Ciguayans,  a  hardy  race  of  mountaineers.  Co- 
lumbus was  particularly  struck  with  the  noble  demeanor 
of  the  cacique,  supposed  to  be  the  same  afterwards  promi- 
nent in  history  as  Mayonabex. 

Not  long  after  the  departure  of  the  admiral  from  La 
Navidad,  the  Spaniards  left  at  the  fort  began  to  give  tlicm- 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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-I 


494 


INDIAN   EACES  OF  AMERICA. 


selves  up  to  tlic  most  unbounded  and  dissolute  license. 
Their  savage  quarrels  among  themselves,  and  the  gross 
sensuality  -which  characterized  their  intercourse  with  the 
natives,  soon  disabused  the  latter  of  the  sublime  concep- 
tions formed  by  them  of  the  virtues  and  wisdom  of  their 
guests.  "With  all  this  misrule,  the  precautions  of  a  mili- 
tary post  were  utterly  neglected,  and  full  opportunity  was 
given  for  an  attack.  The  destruction  of  the  fort  by  the 
Carib  Chief  Caonabo,  will  be  foaud  described  in  a  subse- 
quent chapter. 

When  Ct)lumbus  returned  to  Ilispaniola,  upon  his  second 
voyage,  nothing  but  dismantled  ruins  marked  the  spot  of 
the  settlement.  Guacanagari  and  his  people  described  the 
attack  of  Caonabo  and  his  warriors,  their  own  futile  at- 
tempts to  assist  the  garrison,  and  the  slaughter  of  the 
Spaniards.  Notwithstanding  the  apparent  good  faith  of 
the  cacique,  many  of  the  Spaniards  began  to  mistrust  his 
accounts,  and  to  suspect  iiim  of  having  acted  a  treacher- 
ous part.  This  suspicion  was  strengthened  by  his  sudden 
departure  with  several  of  the  fenijde  captives  brought 
away  by  the  admiral  from  the  Caribec  Islands. 

The  hope  of  procuring  rich  treasures  of  the  precious 
metals,  and  the  desire  of  holding  in  check  the  warlike 
Caonabo,  induced  Columbus  to  establish  the  fortress  of  St. 
Thomas  in  the  province  of  Cibao.  Tliose  stationed  at 
this  remote  interior  position,  in  the  midst  of  more  hardy 
and  proud-s}  irited  tribes  than  those  of  the  coast,  collected 
and  transmitted  much  curious  information  concerning  na- 
tive superstitions,  customs,  and  nationalities.  Some  crude 
notions  of  supernatural  influences,  ap})aritions,  necroman- 
cy, &c.,  were  entertained  by  these  islanders,  in  connnon 
with  most  savage  nations.  They  had  also  an  idea  of  a 
future  state  of  happiness  for  the  good,  in  which  all  earthly 
pleasures  should  be  enjoyed  in  unalloyed  perfection. 


*  ,  *.    3  : 


lissolute  license. 
3,  and  tlic  gross 
>rcourse  with  the 
suLlimc  conccp- 
wisdom  of  their 
LUtions  of  a  mih- 
[  opportunity  was 
f  the  fort  by  the 
iribed  in  a  subse- 


a,  upon  his  second 
larked  the  spot  of    , 
ople  described  the    , 
eir  own  futile  at- 
s  slaughter  of  the 
rent  good  faith  of 
jan  to  mistrust  his 
5  acted  a  treacher- 
ned  by  his  sudden 
captives  brought 
slands. 

es  of  the  precious 
check  the  warlike 
I  the  fortress  of  St. 
Those  stationed  at 
_ilst  of  more  hardy 
the  coast,  collected 
ion  concerning  na- 
ities.     Some  crude 
aritions,  necromau- 
mders,  in  conunon 
also  an  idea  of  a 
n  which  all  earthly 
cd  perfection. 


TRIBES  OF  THE  WEST  INDIES,  ETC. 


495 


CHAPTER  II. 

INDIANS  OF  JAMAICA — CRITISE  ALONG  THE  SOUTHERN  COAST  OF  CUBA 
SPEECH  OF  AN  INDIAN  COUNSELLOR DIFFICULTIES  AT  THE  FOR- 
TRESS  OF  ST.  THOMAS ITS    SIEGE    BY  CAONABO EFFORTS  OF 

COLUMBUS  TO    RESTORE  ORDER GREAT  RIS'NG    OF    THE    IN- 
DIANS OFHISPANIOLA THEIK  DEFEAT TRIBUTE  IMPOSED 

VISIT  OF  BARTHOLOMEW  TO  XARAGUAY FURTHER  IN- 

SURRECTIONS  IN  THE  VEGA BOBADILLA  AS  VICEROY 

CRUELTIES  PRACTISED  ON  THE  INDIANS — LAS  CA- 

SAS INCIDENTS  RELATED  BY  PUKCHAS — ADMIN- 
ISTRATION OF  OVANDO EXPEDITION  AGAINST 

XARAGUA — REDUCTION  OF  HIGUEY. 

In  the  month  of  May,  1494,  the  island  of  Jamaica  was 
first  discovered  by  Columbus.  The  native  inhabitants 
appeared  to  l)e  of  a  very  diiferent  character  from  the  timid 
aud  gentle  islanders  with  whom  former  intercourse  had 
been  held.  A  crowd  of  canoes,  filled  with  savages  gau- 
dily adorned  with  plumes  and  paint,  opposed  the  landing 
of  the  Spaniards.  These  were  pacified  by  the  Indian  in- 
terpreters on  board;  but  upon  landing,  the  next  day,  the 
throng  of  natives  on  shore  exhibited  such  decidedly  hos- 
tile intentions,  that  it  became  necessary  to  intimidate  them. 
A  few  discharges  from  the  S})anisli  cross-bows  sufliced  to 
put  them  to  flight.  The  ferocity  of  a  savage  dog,  brougiit 
on  shore  by  the  whites,  added  greatly  to  their  terror. 

There  was  no  difficulty  in  allaying  the  a])preheusions 
of  these  Indians,  and  the  usual  friendly  intercourse  was 
soon  established.  During  a  cruise  along  the  southern 
coast  of  Cuba,  which  occupied  the  succeeding  months  of 
June  and  Jul}'^,  the  islanders  seen  Avere  as  gentle  and  tract- 
able as  those  upon  the  northern  shores  of  the  island.  The 
means  of  communication  now  afforded  hy  the  Indian  in- 
terpreters gave  new  interest  to  CYcry  confeionce.     The 


d  '    ■•    .*  .-       ' 


:''^%   ■:. 


^^ 


•I  ,,'* 


,••     tj 


,  t 


■I 

f 


4'JO 


INDIAN   RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


wondering  crowd  of  nsitives  would  gather  with  the  most 
eager  interest  around  these  their  fellow-countrymen,  to 
listen  to  the  tales  of  gorgeous  s}>ectacles  and  unheard-of 
wonders  witnessed  by  themselves  in  the  distant  country 
of  the  whites.  There  was  enough  of  the  novel  and  avou- 
derful  befc^re  the  eyes  of  the  ignorant  islanders,  in  the 
ships,  aj)pearance,  conduct,  and  costuinc  of  the  Spaniards, 
to  prevent  incredulity,  iis  they  listened  to  the  narrations 
of  the  interpreters.  The  performance  of  the  religious  ser- 
vices of  the  Catholic  church,  struck  the  natives  with  awe, 
particularly  when  the  purport  of  these  ceremonials  was 
explained  to  them.  In  testimony  of  their  natural  intelli- 
gence and  perceptions  of  right  and  wrong,  Mr.  Irving 
gives  lis,  from  Ilerrera,  the  following  speech  of  an  aged 
councillor  of  one  of  the  Cuban  caciques,  after  witnessing 
the  celebration  of  the  mass: 

"  VVMien  the  service  was  ended,  the  old  niai;  of  f(Jur,scorc, 
who  had  contemplated  it  with  profound  attention,  ap- 
proached Coluuibuf ,  and  made  him  an  oration  in  the  Indian 
manner. 

'"This  which  thou  hast  been  doing,' said  he,  'is  well;  for 
it  ap[)ears  to  be  tliy  manner  of  giving  thanks  to  God.  I 
am  told  that  thou  hast  lately  come  to  these  lands  with  a 
mighty  force,  and  hast  subdued  many  countries,  sjireadiiig 
great  fear  among  the  peoj)lc;  but  be  not  therefore  vain- 
glorious. Know  that,  according  to  our  belief,  the  souLs 
of  men  have  two  journeys  to  perform  after  they  have  de- 
parted from  the  body;  one  to  a  place  dismal  and  foul,  and 
covered  with  darkness,  }j]'e])ared  for  those  who  have  been 
unjust  and  cruel  to  their  fellow-men;  the  other  pleasant 
and  full  of  delight,  for  such  who  have  promoted  peace  on 
earth.  If  then  thou  art  mortal,  and  dost  expect  to  die, 
and  dost  believe  that  each  one  shall  be  rewarded  accord- 
ing to  his  deeds,  beware  that  thou  wrongfull;/  hurt  no  man, 
nor  do  harm  to  those  who  have  done  no  harm  to  thee.' " 


or  with  the  most 
.'-countrymen,  to 
i  and  unheard-of 
c  distant  country 
e  novel  and  won- 
islanders,  in  the    i 
of  the  Spaniards,    j 
to  the  narrations 
f  the  religious  scr- 
uatives  with  awe, 
3  ceremonials  was 
clr  natural  intclli- 
a-ong,  Mr.  Irving 
speech  of  an  aged 
es,  after  witnessing 

d  man  of  fourscore, 
und  attention,  ap- 
ration  in  the  Indian 


aid  he,  'isw^ell;  for 
thanks  to  God.    I 
these  lands  with  a 
ountries,  spreading 
not  tliereforc  vain- 
jir  belief,  the  souls 
after  they  have  do- 
ismal  and  foul,  an<l 
tosc  who  have  been 
the  other  pleasant 
promoted  peace  oa 
dost  expect  to  die, 
)c  rewarded  accord- 
gfully  hurt  no  man, 
10  harm  to  thee.'" 


TRIBES  OF  THE  WEST  INDIES,  ETC. 


497 


From  Cuba  the  admiral  visited  the  southern  shores  of 
Jamaica.  All  tlic  first  distrust  and  opposition  of  the  in- 
habitants had  vanished,  and  nothing  but  gentleness  and 
kindness  charaeterized  their  demeanor.  At  one  place  a 
cacique  came  out  to  the  ship  with  his  whole  family,  "con- 
sisting of  his  Avife,  two  daughters,  two  sons,  and  five  broth 
ers.  One  of  the  daughters  was  eighteen  years  of  age, 
beautiful  in  form  and  countenance ;  her  sister  was  some- 
what younger ;  both  were  naked,  according  to  the  custom 
of  the  islands,  but  were  of  modest  demeanour." 

This  chief  professed  himself  ready  to  go,  with  all  his 
train,  in  the  Spanish  vessels,  to  visit  the  king  and  queen 
of  Spain,  and  acknowledge  himself  their  vassal,  if  by  so 
doing  he  could  preserve  his  kingdom. 

During  the  absence  of  Columbus,  the  dissolute  and  un- 
principled Spaniards  at  the  fortress  of  St.  Thomas,  so 
grossly  abused  their  ])ower  among  the  natives,  that  an  ex- 
tensive s}>irit  of  lioslility  was  roused  up  against  them, 
('aonabo  was  unwearied  in  his  efforts  to  excite  the  other 
island  caciques  to  a  union  against  the  intruders,  and  the 
faithful  Guacanagari  alone  seems  to  have  been  proof  against 
his  persuasions,  in  revenge  for  which  non-compliance, 
the  Carib  and  his  brother-in-law,  Beheehio,  connnilted 
numberless  indignities  and  injuries  upon  him  and  his 
people.  Serious  difficulties  soon  arose;  a  number  of 
Spaniards  were  put  to  death  by  Guatiguana,  a  subordinate 
cacique  under  the  celebrated  Guarionex,  in  punishment  for 
outrages  committed  upon  his  people;  and  Caonabo  besieged 
the  garrison  at  St.  Gliomas  with  a  force  of  many  thousand.-; 
of  his  warriors.  After  thirty  days'  of  ineffectual  atteinpt-5 
to  reduce  the  place,  he  gave  up  the  undertaking,  and  drew 
off  his  army.  Tlie  stratagem  by  which  the  person  of  this 
noted  chief  and  warrior  was  secured  by  the  commandant 
at  St.  Thomas's,  will  bt;  detailed  hereafter.  Columbus,  u);)on 
his  return  to  Ilispaniola,  made  use  of  every  effort  to  check 
32 


^.*ll 


,v''.'' 


:^!'V.;-, 


^i'..  '  ■■  ?■  :v 


t; 


'  1. 


{i.^:...^  ,.;■:; 


■i:" 


498 


INDIAN    RACES   OF   AMElilCA. 


the  ruinous  disorders  which  had  become  prevalent.  He 
punislied  Guatiguana  by  an  invasion  of  his  dominions  and 
the  destruction  of  no  small  number  of  his  pcojile.  An 
interview  was  then  brought  about  with  his  superior,  Gua- 
rionex,  a  peaceable  and  well-disposed  chief,  who  readily 
consented  to  the  establishment  of  a  Spanish  fort  in  the 
very  heart  of  his  domains. 

The  crushing  system  of  oppression  had  now  fairly  com- 
menced, and  was  promptly  followed  up  by  the  shipment 
of  five  hundred  Indians  to  be  sold  as  slaves  in  Spain, 
This  was  directly  the  act  of  Columbus  himself,  and  histo- 
rians only  offer,  as  his  excuse,  the  argument  that  such  was 
the  ordinary  custom  of  his  age  in  all  wars  with  savages  or 
infidels.  The  interposition  of  the  kind-hearted  Isabella, 
prevented  tlie  eonsunmiation  of  this  proposed  sale.  Y>y 
her  orders,  the  prisoners  were  sent  back  to  their  honics, 
but,  unfortunately,  not  until  the  state  of  affairs  n]iou  tlio 
islands  was  such  that  tlie  poor  Indians  might  have  been 
better  situated  as  slaves  in  Spain. 

A  general  combination  of  the  island  chieftains  against 
the  Spaniards  finally  induced  Columbus  to  commence  an 
active  campaign  against  them.  In  the  dominions  of  the 
captive,  Caonabo,  his  brother,  Afanieaotex,  his  brother- 
in-law,  Behceliio,  and  his  beautiful  wife,  Anaeaona,  weiv 
the  most  prominent  in  authority,  and  the  most  active 
in  rousing  up  hostilities.  The  Spanish  force  consisted  of 
a  little  over  two  hundred  men,  twenty  of  whom  were 
mounted,  and  twenty  binod-hounds,  an  enemy  as  novel  as 
terrible  to  the  naked  savages.  Guacanagari  lent  his  feeble 
aid,  with  that  of  his  followers.  Of  the  number  of  the  hos- 
tile Indians  in  the  district  of  the  Vega,  the  historians  of 
the  time  gave  exaggerated  accounts.  They  speak  of  an 
array  of  one  hundred  thousand  hostile  savages.  Mani- 
caotcx  was  leader  of  the  united  tribes.  Near  the  site  of 
the  present  town  of  St.  Jago,  a  decisive  battle  was  fought, 


i_J 


•    ( 


13''  ■ < 

,  •)  1 

i'     '  ■' 

i\ ' '   »   *  • 


prevalent.  He 
s  dominions  and 
lis  people.  An 
is  superior,  Gua- 
licf,  wlio  readily 
inisli  furt  in  the 

I  now  fairly  eom-   I 
by  tlie  shipment   ', 
;-laves  in  Spain, 
imsclf,  and  histo- 
ent  that  such  was 
rs  with  savages  or 
l-hearted  Isabella, 
roposed  sale.     By 
jk  to  their  hoinoH, 
,f  affairs  ujion  lU' 
ft  mi'dit  have  l)ecK 


chieftains  against 
to  commence  au 
dominions  of  the 
|otcx,   his   brothcr- 
ie,  Anaeaona,  were 
|1   the  most  active 
force  consisted  of 
il.y  of  whom  were 
Icnemy  as  novel  as 
■rari  ient  his  fecljle 
number  of  the  hos- 
a,  the  historians  of 
They  speak  of  an 
|e   savages,     ^hmi- 
Near  the  site  of 
battle  was  fought, 


TRIBES  OF  TTTE  ^VEST  INDIES,  ETC. 


499 


L 


in  which  the  vast  army  of  the  Indians  was  utterly  routed. 
The  Spanish  commander  did  not  hesitate  to  divide  his  little 
battalion  into  several  detachments,  Avhieh  fell  upon  the 
enemy  simultaneously,  from  different  quarters.  Torn  to 
pieces  by  the  savage  dogs,  tramphKl  down  by  the  cavalry, 
and  unable  to  effect  any  thing  in  turn  against  the  mail-clad 
whites,  the  poor  Indians  were  overwhelmed  with  confusion 
and  terror.  The  rout  was  as  complete,  although  the  .mas- 
sacre was  not  so  cruel,  as  when  Pi /arro  attacked  the  Peru- 
vian Inca,  with  an  almost  equally  disproportionate  force. 

"The  Indians,"  says  Mr.  Irving,  "fled  in  every  direction 
with  yells  and  howlings;  some  clambered  to  the  top  of 
rocks  and  precipices,  from  whence  they  made  piteous  sup- 
plications and  ort'eis  of  complete  sul (mission;  many  were 
killed,  many  made  jirisoners,  and  the  confederacy  was,  for 
for  the  time,  com])letely  broken  up  and  dispersed." 

Nearly  the  whole  of  Hispaniola  was  speedily  reduced  to 
subjection;  Beheehio  and  his  sister,  Anaeaona,  alone  of  all 
tlie  natives  in  authority,  secluded  themselves  among  the 
luiscttled  wilds  at  the  western  extremity  of  the  island. 
All  the  other  caciques  made  conciliatory  overtures,  and 
submitted  to  the  imposition  of  a  heavy  and  grievous 
trihute  u)>on  them  and  their  subjects.  A  hawks'-bell 
filled  with  gold-dust,  or  twenty-five  pounds  of  cotton,  was 
quarterl}^  required  at  the  hands  of  every  Tndinn  over  the 
age  of  fourteen ;  from  the  chiefs  a  vastly  larger  amount  was 
collected.  The  contrast  between  the  i'oriner  easy  and  lux- 
urious life  of  the  islanders,  their  g.iyety  and  content,  their 
simple  pleasures,  and  unfettered  liberty,  with  the  galling 
servitude  and  weai'isome  tasks  now  imposed,  is  most  toueh- 
ingly  and  eloquently  described  by  Irving.  Unable  to 
endure  the  unwonted  toil  and  hopeless  labor,  the  Indians 
vainly  endeavored  to  escape  to  the  mountains,  and,  sub- 
sisting upon  the  crude  products  of  the  forest,  to  evade  the 
cruelty  of  their  enslavers.     They  were  hunted   out,  and 


t.  (■■ 


M 


■     I'. 


Xl' 


1.7'  h    .>  '  . 


.> 


-^v. 


"■■.1   ■ 


i.  •■( 


U'-itl 


.,,  1 


^:te' 


1  v;  •■' 


500 


INDIAN  RACKS  OF  AMERICA. 


compelled  to  return  to  tlieir  homes  and  to  their  Lihora^ 
The  imfortunato  Cuuicaiiagari,  ree.eivin<,' no  favor  from  tho 
susjiicious  Sj^aninrds,  and  being  an  object  of  the  dee})eHt 
hatred  to  his  countrymen  for  the  part  he  had  taken  in  their 
struggle  for  freedom,  died  in  neglect  and  wretchedness 
among  the  mountains. 

In  1496,  Bartholomew,  a  brother  of  Columbus,  then  ex- 
ercising the  ofliee  of  adelantado  at  Ilispaniola,  visited 
Bchechio  at  his  remote  Avestern  province  of  Xaraguay. 
He  was  received  with  hospitality  and  kindness  by  this 
chief  and  his  sister  Anacaona,  and  entertained  in  the  best 
manner  the  country  could  afford.  The  objer^t  of  the  ex- 
pedition was  to  induce  the  cacique  to  oom})ly  peaeealily 
witb  the  Spanish  requisitions  of  tribute.  IJeheehio  liad 
learned  by  sad  experience  the  power  of  the  P]uropenii 
arms,  and,  as  the  adelantado  agreed  to  receive  tlio  tribnti' 
in  such  articles  as  his  country  jtroduced,  instead  of  gold, 
he  readily  consented.  Bartholomew's  judicious  policy 
towards  these  illustrious  islanders  gained  him  their  highest 
esteem.  Bchechio  and  his  sister  paid  the  tribute  required 
cheerfully  and  promptly;  and,  upon  the  occasion  of  u  visit 
from  the  adelantado  to  receive  it,  th(?y  both  took  occasion 
to  visit  the  caravel  in  which  he  had  arrived.  Anacaona, 
especially,  was  filled  with  delight  at  tlie  sight  of  the  vessel, 
and  at  witnessing  the  ease  and  certainty  with  which  its 
movements  were  controlled. 

'^l^he  females  of  Xaraguay  were  of  most  remarkable 
beauty,  but  preeminent  among  them  was  the  widow  of 
Caonabo.  Her  queenly  demeanor,  grace,  and  courtesy, 
won  the  admiration  of  the  Spaniards. 

In  the  following  year  (1497)  another  insurrection  broke 
out  among  tribes  of  the  Veg:t  and  the  vicinity.  ''J'hc  im- 
mediate cause  of  this  outbreak  was  the  execution,  at  the 
stake,  in  accordance  with  the  barbarity  and  bigotry  of  the 
age,  of  a  number  of  Indians,  for  the  offence  of  sacrileiro 


.  to  their  liil'ors. 
u)  lavor  from  tho 
ft  of  the  deepest 
lad  taken  in  tlioiv 
.nd  wretehednesrt 

.)lumbns,  then  ex- 
ispaniohi,   visited   , 
lice  of  Xaraguay. 
kindness  by  this  j 
rtained  in  the  bc.4 
3  oVyect  of  the  ex- 
comi)ly  pcaceaiily 
te.     15elieel\io  IkhI 
■  of  tl>e  Envope;m 
receive  the  trihuir 
:>d,  instead  of  golH, 
[s  judieiovis  pohry 
diiini  dieir  higliest 
he  tribute  requinHl 
c  occasion  of  a  visit 

)oth  took  occasion 
rrivcd.  Anacaona, 
.  sight  of  the  vessd, 

iity  with  wliieli  iU^ 


most  rcinarkahle 
was  tlie  widow  (»f 
ace,  and   courtesy, 


V: 


insurrection  broke 
3  vicinity.  The  iin- 
10  execuUon,  at  the 
y  and  bigotry  of  tlie 

oflfence  of  sacrilege 


TRIBES  OF  THE  WEST   INDIES,  ETC. 


501 


Guarioncx,  the  principal  cacique,  !>ad  been  an  object  of 
special  interest  wath  the  ecclesiastic -i  to  whom  was  com- 
mitted the  work  of  converting  the  1, landers.  His  easy 
and  ^iliablc  disposition  caused  him  to  Mstcn  patiently  to 
their  instructions,  ami  to  com]>ly  with  numerous  forms  of 
their  enjoining.  Some  one  of  the  Spaniards  having  com- 
mitted an  outrage  upon  his  wife,  Guarionex  refused  to 
listen  further  to  the  doctrines  of  a  religion  whose  profess- 
ors were  guilty  of  such  villanies.  Shortly  after  this,  a 
chajjcl  was  broken  open,  and  images  enshrined  within  it 
were  destroyed  by  a  iuuid)er  of  the  natives.  For  this 
ofi'enee,  those  implicated  were  burned  alive,  as  above  men- 
tioned. 'I'lie  adclantado  suppressed  the  consequent  uprising 
by  a  jirompt  and  energetic  sei/Aire  of  the  leading  chiefs. 
Two  of  these  n'crc  put  to  death,  but  Guarionex  and  the 
others  were  pardoned. 

By  the  persuasions  and  influence  of  the  rebellious  Hol- 
dan,  the  unfortunate  cacique  was,  in  1-198,  drawn  into  a 
second  conspiracy  of  the  natives.  The  plot  was  prema- 
turely developed,  and  Guarioncx  fled  from  the  plains  of 
tlie  A'^ega  into  the  moimtains  of  Ciguay,  and  joined  his 
fortunes  to  those  of  the  cacique  Mayonabex.  This  gener- 
ous and  noble  chief  received  him,  with  his  family  and  a 
few  followers,  under  his  protection. 

From  this  retreat,  with  the  assistance  of  Ciguayan  war- 
riors, the  fugitive  was  enabled  to  molest  the  Spanish 
settlements  of  the  hnv  country  with  impunity,  until  the 
Adclantado  Bartholomew  invaded  the  mountain  district, 
dis})ersed  the  armies  of  ^[ayonabex,  and  took  both  him 
and  his  guest  prisoners.  The  conqueror  was  more  placable 
towards  a  fallen  foe  than  most  of  his  countrymen,  and, 
upon  the  submission  of  the  Ciguayans,  was  ready  to  accord 
them  protection  and  favor.  Guarionex  perished,  in  1502, 
on  his  passage  for  Spain,  in  the  same  vessel  with  Boba- 
Milla  and  Eoldan.     The  ship  foundered  at  sea  in  a  terrible 


v, »' 


''•  'P\ 


''  S 1 


■tf:^: 


1 

1 

1 

tM 


(  ■.' 


,■■■  .1 

1   ;      .      ) 


^- ■!•■'■•' 


502 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


hurricane,  wliicli  arose  iianiediatel}'  after  the  Jeparturo 
from  Uispaniola. 

It  was  under  the  administration  of  Bohadilla  that  the 
Indians  of  IIis])aniohi  were  reduced  to  a  more  completo 
and  systematic  condition  of  shivery  tlian  before,  ^i'hey 
were  regularly  i)arceled  out  to  the  Si)anish  jiropi'ietoi's 
of  the  mines,  by  whom  they  were  compelled  to  labor  far 
beyond  their  powers  of  endurance,  and  whose  wanton  crufl- 
ties  excited  the  strongest  indignation  in  the  mind  of  the 
benevolent  Las  Casas — one  of  the  few  historians  of  his  age 
and  nation,  who  possessed  the  inclination  or  courage  to 
paint  the  crueltie.':-  of  his  countrymen  in  their  true  colors. 
1'his  truly  benevolent  man  devoted  the  greater  portion  of 
his  life  to  elforts  for  ameliorating  the  condition  of  tlie  na- 
tives of  the  New  World,  but  in  his  sympatliy  with  tlicMr 
sullerings  and  op})ressioii.s,  he  unlbrt\inately  lost  sight  ol' 
wliat  was  due  to  another  scarcely  less  unlbi'tunate  rai-c. 
lie  was  among  the  earliest  to  advocate  the  sub.stitutiuii  nf 
negro  slavery  for  that  of  the  Indians,  under  the  impres- 
sion— doubtless  in  itself  just — that  a  state  of  servitude  was 
less  intolerable  to  tlie  one  than  the  other.  It  is  to  Las 
Casas  that  we  are  indebted  for  the  most  frightful  ch'tail  of 
wrong  and  cruelty  in  the  settlement  of  the  West  Indios, 
that  ever  disgraced  human  nature.  His  descri|)tions  oi'  tlu; 
manner  in  which  the  native  population  was  annihilated  to 
minister  to  the  luxury  and  avarice — nay,  far  wor.se,  lo  the 
depraved  and  wanton  cruelty  of  the  S})aniiirds — are  fright- 
ful in  the  extreme.  We  can  share  in  the  honest  indigna- 
tion of  old  Purchas,  from  vvhose  "a'ilgrhnage"  we  cite  the 
following  items: 

"In  the  Island  Ilispaniola  the  Spaniards  had  their  first 
Indian  habitations,  wliere  tlieir  cruelties  draue  the  Indians 
to  their  shifts,  and  to  their  weak  defence,  which  caused 
those  enraged  Lions,  to  spare  neither  man,  woman,  nor 
childe. — They  set  up  gibbets,  and  in  honour  of  Curist  and  : 


or  the  departure  i, 

W)udilla  that  the  ; 
a  more  coinpleto  I 
.an  before.     Thoy 
)anish   proprietors   , 
pellod  to  hibor  far 
iioric  wanton  crurl- 
u  the  mind  of  the 
iatorians  of  his  ago 
ion  or  conrai^^e  to 
n  their  true  eolors. 
>  greater  portion  of 
audition  of  the  ua- 
y'Uipathy  with  their 
nati^ly  lost  sight  of 
s  unlbrtuuate  rare. 
;  the  suhrititutiun  "f 
uuder  the  imiu'i's- 
ate  of  servitude  was 
ther.     It  is  to  has 
,t  frightful  detail  of 
of  the  West  Indies, 
s  deseriptions  ol' tlio 
was  annihilated  lo 
y,  far  worse,  to  the 
laniards— are  fright- 
the  honest  indignu- 
rinuige"  we  cite  the 

ards  had  their  llr.st 
s  drauc  the  Indians  ', 
bnce,  which  caused  ■ 
r  man,  woman,  nor 
)nour  of  Cubist  and 


TRIUKS  OF  THE  WEST  INDIES,  ETC. 


503 


his  twelve  Apostle.s  (as  they  said,  aud  could  the  Diuell 
say  worse?)  they  would  both  hang  and  burue  them.  '''■  * 
The  Nobles  and  conmianders,  thoy  broiled  on  gridiron.s, 
*  *  *  They  had  dogges  to  hunt  them  out  of  tliiiircouerts, 
which  deuoured  the  jioore  .soules:  and  because  -sonuiliuu'S 
the  fudiaiis,  thus  prouoiced,  wouhl  kill  a  Spaniard,  if  they 
found  opportunitie,  they  made  o  law,  that  au  hundred  of 
them  should  for  one  Spaniard  be  slaine." 

He  elsewhere  remarks: 

"Ilere  [in  Cuba]  was  a  cacique  named  Uathuey,  which 
called  his  subjects  about  him,  and  shewing  them  a  boxe  of 
Gold,  said,  that  was  the  Spaniards  (lod,  and  made  them 
dance  about  it  very  solemnly;  and  lest  the  Spaniards 
should  have  it,  he  hurled  it  into  the  Jliuer.  I'eing  taken 
and  condemneu  to  the  fire;  when  he  was  bound  to  the 
stake,  a  Frier  cajue  and  preached  lieaucn  to  him,  and  the 
terrors  of  hell .  Ilathuc}'  askt'cl  if  there  were  any  Spaniards 
in  heauen,  the  Frier  answered,  yea,  such  as  were  good; 
Ilathuey  replied,  he  w(^uld  rather  goe  to  hell,  then  goo 
where  any  of  that  cruell  Nation  Avere.  I  was  once  present 
saith  Ciisas,  when  the  inhabitants  of  one  towne  brought  vs 
forth  victuall,  and  met  vs  with  great  Kindne.sse,  and  the 
Spaniards  without  au}^  cause  slew  tliree  thousand  of  them, 
of  cuery  age  and  scxe.  I,  by  tluMr  counsell,  sent  to  other 
Townes  to  meet  vs,  with  promise  of  good  dealing,  and  two 
and  twentie  Caciques  met  vs,  wdiicli  the  Captaine,  against 
all  faitli,  cau.sed  to  be  burned." 

In  Ilispaniola,  under  the  administration  of  Ovando,  suc- 
cessor to  Bobadilla,  the  suil'erings  and  ojipressions  of  the 
overtask(M:l  natives  reached  their  climax.  It  would  be  but 
a  wearisome  repetition  of  barbarities  to  eiuunerato  the 
wrongs  perpetrated  against  the  submissive  iidud)itants  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  ])rinci]>al  Spani.'^h  setllement.'s,  but  the 
expedition  against  the  province  of  Xaraguay  merits  a  more 
particular  attention.     This  was  in  the  year  1503.     Behe- 


'  "1*1  jH'j 

'Mi, 


604 


I.VDIAN   RACES  OF  AMKUICA. 


chio  wjia  tlciid,  but  liirt  sister  Anuciiona  still  niaintuinod  her 
influence  over  the  natives  of  tliat  tlistrict.  Upon  pretence 
of  an  intended  insurrection,  Ovando  determined  torechicc 
Xaraguay  to  a  condition  as  miscraljle  and  hopeless  as  that 
of  the  eastern  districts.  He  started  upon  this  expt'ditimi 
with  three  hundreil  well-arnie(l  infantry  and  seventy 
nioiintcul  men.  The  army  entered  the  dominions  of  Ana- 
caona  with  tlie  aj^pearance  of  friendship,  and  the  ([iieeii, 
witli  her  associate  caciciues,  was  not  ])ackward  in  rend(!rin^' 
to  her  visitors  all  the  hosj)italitics  of  the  country.  Troops 
of  youiif]^  fi;irls,  dancing  and  wavinj^  branches  of  j)ahn, 
ushered  them  into  the  principal  village,  where  they  were 
received  and  entertained  with  every  token  of  kindness 
and  good-will. 

It  is  impossible  to  conceive  of  any  adequate  motion  on 
the  part  of  tiie  lerocious  Ovando  for  tlie  treacherous  cru- 
elty of  his  conduct  towards  his  hosts,  lie  affected  to  be- 
lieve tliat  a  conspiracy  was  on  foot  among  the  tuitives,  to 
massacre  him  ami  his  followers,  but,  judging  from  what 
we  can  loarn  of  the  transaction,  there  existed  no  possible 
ground  for  such  a  sus})icion.  The  course  taken  to  avert 
the  supposed  danger  was  as  follows.  All  the  caciipies 
were  invited  to  attend,  with  their  people,  at  a  grand  festi- 
val or  exhibition  of  Spanish  martial  exercises.  When  the 
ixnsuspecting  Xaraguans  had  gathered  in  eager  curiosity 
to  bt.'hold  the  scene,  at  a  given  signal,  the;  armed  .S])aniards 
fell  upon  the  crowd,  and  a  scene  of  hori'ible  carnage  en- 
sued. Forty  of  the  chiefs,  it  is  said,  were  taken  ])risoners, 
and  after  being  subjected  to  the  most  cruel  torments  to 
extort  from  them  a  c(jnfession  of  guilt,  the  house  Avhcrc 
they  were  confined  was  set  on  lire,  and  the  whole  number 
perished  in  the  flames. 

Anaeaona  was  carried  to  St.  Domingo,  tried,  adjudged 
guilty  of  an  attempt  at  insurrection,  and  hanged!  Her 
subjects  were  remorselessly  persecuted ;  hunted  from  their 


iiSi 


»    i 


Lill  iiuuntiiincd  her 
t.     Upon  pretence 
tonninod  to  roilucc 
id  hopoU's«  iw  tliiit 
KMi  lli'iH  cxpoditioii 
ntry   ainl   soviMity 
doiiuiiiourt  of  Aiiii- 
ip,  and  the  (juocn, 
kvvard  in  rondoriiij,' 
0  country.    Troops 
brixnclies  of  ptilm, 
re,  where  they  wei'c 
token  of  kindness 


idcqtiatc  motion  on 
he  treaehorons  cm- 
lie  alVeeted  to  be- 
iionfj;  tlie  natives,  to 
judging  from  what 
existed  no  i)ossiblc 
iirso  taken  to  avert 
All  the   C!\ei([n('s 
pie,  at  a  grand  I'esti- 
viTeises.     Wlien  the 
1  in  eager  curiosity 
lu!  armed  S])fmiar(ls 
lori'ihle  earnnge  en- 
ere  taken  prisoiier;^, 
t  cruel  tt)rments  to 
t,  the  house  where 
d  the  whole  number 

tigo,  tried,  adjudged 
and  hanged!  Her 
;  hunted  from  their 


TRinHS  OF  TIIK  WKST  INDIES,  KTC. 


505 


rctnvvts  mnong  the  nunintains,  slain  like-  wild  bcasta,  or 
brouglit  into  the  most  servile  ami  hopeless  bondage,  they 
att(Mni)ted  no  resistance,  and  submitted  to  the  cruel  yoko 
of  their  tyrants. 

'i'he  rediietioii  (/f  the  eastern  province  of  Iliguey,  and 
the  execution  of  its  noble  and  gigantic  ehii'f  CV)tulKUiama, 
completed  the  Spanish  con(piests  on  the  island  of  Ilispan- 
iola.  The  details  of  the  barbarities  attendant  iipon  this 
last  warfare,  as  given  l)y  Las  Casas,  are  too  horribU'  and 
disgusting  for  minute  recital.  It  is  sulTieient  tlint,  not  eon- 
tent  with  the  destruction  of  the  con(piered  peo})le,  without 
regard  to  age  and  sex,  the  Spaniards  tasked  their  ingetinity, 
to  devise  the  most  cruel  and  lingering  torments  in  the  mur- 
der of  tluMr  jirisoners. 

By  such  a  eonrse  of  nlmeities  were  the  West  fndia 
islands  depopulated  of  their  original  inhabitants.  The 
sunmuiry  with  which  Purelias  eonebides  liis  enumeration 
of  various  S(!enes  of  Spanish  cruelty,  is  too  (inaiut  and 
forcible  to  be  omitted.  "I'ut  why  doe  I  longer  trace  them 
in  their  bloudie  sti'ppes;  seeing  our  Author  that  relati>s 
much  more  then  1,  yet  protesteth  that  it  was  a  thousand 
times  worse.  *  *  How  nuiy  we  admire  that  long-sull'ering 
of  Oon,  that  rained  not  a  flcmd  of  waters,  as  in  Xoa/is 
time,  or  of  tire,  as  in  /io/.s',  or  of  stones,  as  in  Jins/ncis,  or 
some  vengeance  from  heauen  viH)n  these  ^^odels  of  I  fell? 
And  li<>w  could  ITell  forbeare  swallowing  such  pre|)are(l 
morsels,  exeeedinge  the  beastlinesse  of  beastes,  inhuman- 
itic  of  wonted  tyrants,  and  diuelishuesse,  if  it  were  pos- 
sible, of  the  Diuels." 


I!-    .*' 


•   ^'.  ' . 


■    "1 


''{■■'■  •!'■..; 


.if. 


506  INDIAN   HACKS  OF  AMi:UICA. 

CllArXEU  III. 

TIIR  CARII5S THKIR  ISLANDS  FIKST  ViSlTKn  HV  COLUMUUS ORIGIN 

ANP  LOCATION  OK  TlIK  HACK TOKKNS  OK  CANNIBALISM  SKKN  BY 

THK    SPANIAHPS CKl'ISK    AMONO    TIIK    ISLANDS — D.'MKANOK 

OF  I'KISONKKS  TAKKN RKTUH.N    TO  HISI'AMOLA DKSTRUC- 

TION    OF    THK    FOKTIiKSS   AT   THA'f    ISLAND CAPTIMIK    OF 

CAONAliO  :    HKS  DKATII KXI'ULSION  OF  TIIK  NATIVKS 

FIIOM  TIIK    CAHIBi;i;K    ISLANDS. 

At  tlie  time  of  tlic  discovery  of  America  by  Clinst()])licr 
Columbus,  the  fierce  and  celebrated  race  of  canuibuls  which 
forms  the  subject  of  the  present  chapter  was  princi})ally 
located  upon  the  beautiful  trojiical  islands,  extending  from 
Porto  liico  to  the  main  land  of  South  America.  The  ter- 
ror of  their  invasions,  felt  by  the  more  gentle  and  jicace- 
able  natives  of  the  greater  Antilles,  inspired  no  little 
curiosity  and  interest  in  the  minds  of  the  early  voyagci's, 
and  C(jlunibus  had  promised  the  assistance  of  tlie  Spanisli 
power  to  check  their  ravages.  L^pon  his  second  voyagi>, 
in  1-193,  the  first  land  made  was  one  of  the  Caribbean  isl- 
ands, and  on  the  following  day,  (November  4th,)  a  landing 
was  eil'ected  at  Guadalouj^e.  Here  the  first  intercourse 
took  place  with  the  terrible  Cai-ibs. 

This  singular  race  of  savages,  according  to  tradition, 
had  i*s  origin  upon  the  continent  of  North  vVmerica, 
among  the  mountain  districts  of  the  central  United  States. 
Perhaps  they  miglit  have  sjirung  from  the  same  stock  as 
the  warlil<e  M(jiiaeans  and  otlier  savage  tribes  of  the 
interior,  spoken  of  by  early  historians.  "They  are  said  to 
have  niignited,"  says  Mr.  Irving,  "from  tlie  remote  val- 
leys embosomed  in  tlie  Ai>palachiun  mountains,  '^fho 
earliest  notices  we  have  of  tlicin  represent  them  with  their 
weapons  in  their  hands;  continually  engaged  invars;  wiii- 
niuii  their  way  and  shifting  tiicir  abode,  until  in  the  course 


CA. 


V  COI,UMnUS ORIGIN 

NN'IHAMSM  SKKN  BY 
ANDS — D.niEANOIl 

MOr.A DKSTliUC- 

;i) CAPTIJIIK    01' 

■  Till-:  NATIVKS 
iDS. 

i-ica  by  Cliristoplicr 
of  ciiuulbuls  which 
ter  wiis  principiiUy   , 
ids,  exteiKliujf  from   ' 
^Vincricu.     The  ter- 
3  gentle  and  peace- 
inspired  no  little 
the  early  vovagers. 
mee  of  the  Spanisli 
lii.s  second  voyage, 
the  Caribbean  isl- 
iber  4th,)  a  landing 
le  first  intercourse 

)rding  to  tradition, 

f   North  America, 

itral  United  States. 

the  same  stock  as 

a<xc  tribes  of  the 

"They  are  said  to 

)in  the  remote  val- 

mountains,     'i'ho 

lit  them  with  their 

a^xyd  in  vars;  ■win- 

until  in  the  course 


I 


TRIBES  OF  THE  WEST  INDIES,  ETC. 


507 


of  time  they  found  themselves  on  the  extreme  end  of 
Florida."  llcnee  they  made  their  way  from  one  island  to 
another  to  the  southern  continent.  "The  archipelago  ex- 
tending from  Porto  Eico  to  Tobago,  was  their  strong-hold, 
and  the  island  of  Guadaloupe  in  a  manner  their  citadel." 

Whether  the  foregoing  account  of  the  original  deriva 
tion  of  the  race  be  the  correct  one,  it  would  be  dillicult  to 
decide  at  this  distance  of  time.  When  first  known  to 
Europeans  the  dilFerent  nations  of  Caribs  were  widely  dif- 
fused upon  the  Continent  of  South  America.  They  were 
to  be  found  upon  the  banks  of  the  Orinoco,  where  their 
descendants  arc  living  at  this  day,  and,  still  forther  south, 
in  Brazil.  They  were  every  where  noted  for  the  same 
fierce  and  warlike  spirit.  Something  of  the  physical  char- 
acteristics of  the  inhabitants  of  eastern  Asia  has  been 
observed  in  the  Caribs  and  the  Guarani  tribes  who  in- 
habited the  country  north  of  the  Amazon.  As  described 
by  D'Orbigny,  the  following  peculiarities  are  noticeable 
in  most  of  them.  "Complexion  yellowish;  stature  middle; 
forehead  not  so  much  arched  as  in  other  races;  eyes  ob- 
liquely placed,  and  raised  at  the  outer  angle." 

To  return  to  the  experience  of  the  discoverer  of  the 
New  World  at  the  Caribbee  islands.  At  the  landing  of 
the  Spaniards,  the  natives  fled  from  a  neighboi'ing  village 
into  the  interior.  In  order  to  conciliate  them,  the  visitoi's 
fastened  hawks'-bells  and  attractive  ornaments  to  the  arms 
of  some  children  who  had  been  left  behind  in  the  hurry  of 
flight.  The  sight  of  human  remains,  among  other  things, 
"the  head  of  a  young  man,  recently  killed,  which  was 
yet  bleeding,  and  some  parts  of  his  body  boiling  with  the 
flesh  of  geese  and  parrots,  and  others  roasting  before  the 
fire,"  at  once  suggested  the  thought  that  this  must  be  the 
country  of  the  Caribs.  Columbus  took  a  number  of  the 
natives  prisoners,  and  carried  off  several  women  who  had 
been  held  in  cajjlivity  by  the  islanders.     It  appeared  that 


', « 


*  '    '-' 


i  Jm' 


/<      ■:■  >■'■■ 


v> 


.    .    *  V  J 


'.'■   S''^  ;'.'V^ 


*■ ;.' 


'■'?■■  r 
■if-: 


508 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


most  of  the  men  of  the  island  were  away  npon  some  war 
like  exeursion. 

Pursuing  his  course  towards  Ilispaniola,  or  Ilayti,  where 
tlie  lirst  eolony  had  been  planted  upon  his  preceding  voy- 
age, Columbus  sailed  by  numerous  islands  of  the  Caribbean 
groupe.  lie  landed  at  Santa  Cruz,  called  Ayay  by  the 
Indians,  and  secured  a  further  immber  of  })risoners.  Some 
of  these  were  in  a  canoe,  and  olFered  a  fierce  resistance 
when  they  saw  their  retreat  intercepted  by  one  of  the 
Sjianish  boats.  There  were  two  women  of  the  party,  one 
of  them  apparently  a  female  cacique,  and  these  showed  no 
less  valor  than  the  men.  They  were  taken  by  upsetting 
their  canoe;  but,  even  in  the  water,  they  resisted  stoutly 
to  the  last,  availing  themselves  of  every  point  of  suidvcu 
)'ock,  where  they  could  obtain  a  foothold,  to  disehariie 
their  arrows.  One  of  the  men  was  a  son  of  the  queen,  and 
his  "terrible  frowning  brow,  and  lion's  face,"  excited  the 
adnairution  of  his  cajitors.  The  demeanor  of  the  whole 
party  reminds  one  strongly  of  the  early  descriptions  of  the 
Maquas  or  Mohawks  when  in  captivity. 

"When  on  board,"  says  Irving,  "the  Spaniards  could 
not  but  admire  their  untamed  spirit  and  fierce  demeanour. 
Their  hair  was  long  and  coarse,  their  eyes  encircled  with 
paint,  so  as  to  give  them  a  hideous  expression;  they  had 
bands  of  cotton  bound  firmly  above  and  l)elow  the  muscu- 
lar ])ai-ts  of  the  arms  and  legs,  so  as  to  cause  them  to  swell 
to  a  disprojiortionatc  size,  which  was  regarded  by  them  as 
a  great  beauty,  a  custom  which  prevailed  among  various 
tiibes  of  the  new  world.  Though  captives,  in  chains,  and 
in  the  power  of  their  enemies,  they  still  retained  a  frown- 
ing brow  and  an  air  of  defiance." 

Arriving  at  Ilayti,  Columbus  found  the  settleincMit  at 
La  Navidad  laid  waste  and  abandoned.  Its  destruction 
was  owing  to  a  Carib  chief  named  Caonabo,  whose  warlike 
and  commanding  nature  hud  gained  him  unbounded  aii- 


3A. 

ly  upon  some  war 

la,  or  Ilayti,  where 
his  preceding  voy- 
is  of  the  Caribbean 
ailed  Ayay  by  the 
if  prisoners.  Some 
a  iierce  resistance  ;, 
ted  by  one  of  the  \' 
a  of  the  part}-,  one  , , 
id  these  showed  no  | 
taken  by  iipsettini,'  ' 
liey  resisted  stoutly  i 
ry  point  of  suid'Crii  , 
thold,  to  diseharu'e  | 
m of  the  (pieen,  and 
s  face,"  exeited  the  : 
panor  of  the  whole 
descriptions  of  llic 

ic  Spaniards  could 
d  fierce  demeanour, 
eyes  encircled  with 
pression;  they  hud 
d  below  the  inuseu- 
cause  them  to  swell 
egarded  by  them  ns 
iled  among  various 
tivcs,  in  chains,  and 
11  retained  a  frown- 

1  the  settlement  at 
id.  Its  destruction 
labo,  whose  warlike 
lim  unbounded  au- 


TRIBES  OF  THE  WEST  INDIES,  ETC, 


509 


thority  over  the  natives  of  the  island.  The  fact  of  his 
uniting  himself  with  another  race  by  which  his  own  na- 
tion was  regarded  with  the  utmost  detestation  and  dread, 
and  his  attainment  of  rank  and  influence  under  such 
circumstances,  arc  sufficient  proofs  of  liis  enterprise  and 
cai)acity. 

The  friendly  Indian  chief  Guacanagari  had  in  vain  ex- 
tended his  assistance  to  the  little  band  of  .Spanish  colonists. 
Caonabo  had  heard  at  his  establishment  among  the  nioun- 
taint'  of  Cibao,  of  the  outrages  and  excesses  committed  by 
the  whites,  and  during  the  absence  of  the  admiral,  he 
made  a  descent  u})on  the  fort.  All  of  the  Spaniards  per- 
ished, and  Guacanagari  was  wounded  in  the  encounter. 
As  a  further  punishment  for  his  espousal  of  the  cause  of 
the  detested  strangers,  his  village  was  destroyed  b}-  the 
revengeful  Carib. 

Guacanagari  and  othei"  Ilaytian  Indians  were  taken  on 
board  the  Spanish  vessels,  and,  among  other  proofs  of 
superiority  and  jiower,  were  shown  the  Carib  prisoners, 
confined  in  chains.  This  seemed  to  affect  them  more 
powerfully  than  any  thing  else  that  they  witnessed.  ^J'hese 
captives  were  afterwards  sent  over  to  S|)ain  for  insti-uetion 
in  the  Spanish  language  and  in  the  true  religion,  it  being 
intended  that  they  should  thereatter  act  as  missionaries 
among  their  own  savage  countrymen. 

The  circumstances  attending  the  capture  of  the  S})an- 
iards'  most  dreaded  enemy,  Caonabo,  are  too  singulai'  and 
well  attested  to  be  passed  over.  'J'his  was  accomplished 
by  the  celebrated  Alon/A)  de  Ojeda,  commandant  of  the 
fortress  of  St.  Thomas.  'J'he  Carib  chief  was  able,  it  is 
asserted,  to  bring  no  less  than  ten  thousand  w^ari-ioi's  into 
the  field,  and  his  ])ersonal  strength  and  couiage  rendered 
him  no  des])icable  foe  in  open  combat.  Ojeda  luid  reeoiu'sc 
to  the  following  stratagem  to  secure  his  enemy:  lie  pro- 
ceeded, accompanied  by  only  ten  mounted  compatiions. 


''■  v;':f: 


'»/i:    ^.' 


1  «t.  ; 


'>«  1  t'  >■ 


I'     V 


■.;;  t 


■■■'■  ''41) 


:.n|:' 


510 


INDIAN   KACES  OF  AMEllICA. 


direct  to  the  chiefs  cnc.impmcnt,  upon  pretence  of  a 
friendly  mission  IVoni  the  adiniruh 

'I'lie  cacique  was,  al'ter  great  persuasion,  induced  to 
undertake  an  expedition  to  Isabelhi  for  the  purpose  of 
peaceful  negotiations  with  Columbus.  Among  other  in- 
ducements, Ojeda  promised  him  the  chapel-bell,  as  a  ])i'es- 
ent.  Accompanied  bv  a  large  body  of  armed  warriors, 
the  party  set  out -for  the  Spanish  settlement.  Near  the 
river  V'agui,  in  the  words  of  Mr.  Irving,  "Ojeda  one  day 
produced  a  S(!l  of  manacles  of  polished  steel,  so  highly 
burnished  that  they  looked  like  silver.  Those  he  assui'cd 
Caonabo  were  royal  ornaments  which  had  (.-(ime  JVoni 
heaven,  nr  the  Turey  of  Biscay,"  (the  location  of  t-ertaiii 
extensive  ii'on  manufactories);  "that  they  were  worn  by 
the  monarchs  of  Castile  in  solemn  dances,  and  other  lugli 
festivities,  and  were  iiitt'ndcd  as  ])resents  to  the  cacii|iit'. 
He  propos(>d  that  Caonabo  .«houid  go  to  the  rJNcr  and 
bathe,  after  which  he  should  be  decollated  with  tlicse  orna- 
ments, mounted  on  the  horse  of  Ojeda,  and  should  ivtuiii 
in  the  state  of  a  Spanish  monarch,  to  astonish  his  subjects." 

The  liold  device  was  completely  successful.  CaoiKibo, 
en  croupe  behind  Ojeda,  for  a  short  time  i-xultecl  in  his 
proud  ])osition,  curvetting  among  his  amazed  warriors: 
but  suddeidy  the  little  cavalcade  dashed  into  the  forest  with 
a  rajtidity  that  tlelied  pui'suit.  Tlu;  cacique  was  safely 
carried  a  distance  of  fil'ly  or  sixty  leagues  to  Isabella,  aiul 
delivered  to  the  aihiiiral.  lie  ever  after  expi'cssed  ^I'eat 
admiration  at  the  skill  and  courage  with  which  his  caplor 
had  duped  him,  and  manifested  a  reverence  aiid  respect 
towards  Ojeda  which  his  proud  and  haughty  .spirit  forbade 
liim  to  exliibit  in  any  (jther  presence,  even  that  of  Colum- 
bus himself. 

U{)on  the  occasion  of  tlic  adtniral's  second  return  to 
Spain,  in  1107,  Caonabo,  with  several  of  his  relatives,  and 
a  number  of  other  Indians,  was  taken  on  board.     Baniccl 


-1\ 


II    pretence   of  a 


ision,   induced  to 
r  the  purpose  of 
Among  other  in- 
pel-hell,  us  :i  jtres- 
f  armed  wnrriors, 
cment.     ^^';lr  the    I 
r   "()ieda  one  day    '■ 
d  steel,  so  highly    ' 
Those  he  assured    ' 
I    had    (.•iiiue   IVoiii 
loealiou  of  cfrtaiii 
hey  were  worn  hy 
!cs,  and  other  high 
nts  to  the  eaei<iue. 
:)  to  the  river  and 
vi\  with  these  nrna- 
and  should  retiu'n 
aiish  liissidi'uvts." 
•cssful.      Caniiaho, 
ne  cxidted  in  his 
ania/.eil  warriors: 
into  the  forest  with 
icifpic  was  safely 
los  to  Isahella,  and 
•r  expressed  great 
I  Avhieh  his  eaptor 
iM-eiiee  and  i-espect 
nghty  si)irit  forhadc 
ven  that  of  C'olum- 


's  sceond  return  to 

of  his  relatives,  and 

on  board.     Baffled 


TRIBES  OF  THE  WEST  INDIES,  ETC. 


511 


by  contrary  winds,  the  vessels  were  a  long  time  delayed  at 
the  very  eommeneement  of  the  voyage.  A  landing  was 
cHeeted  at  Guadaloupe,  for  the  purpose  of  proeui'ing  fresh 
provisions. 

The  inhabitants  exhibited  their  natural  hostility  of 
disposition,  and  it  was  especially  observed,  as  upon  a 
former  oeeasion,  that  the  women  were  as  warlike  and  effi- 
cient as  the  men.  A  nundjcr  of  these  females  were  made 
prisoners,  among  the  rest,  one  who  was  wife  of  a  chief  of 
the  island,  a  woman  of  most  remarkable  fvgility  and  strength. 
On  setting  sail,  tlic  admiral,  desirous  of  conciliating  the 
good-will  of  the  natives,  set  Ins  prisoners  free,  and  gave 
tluMU  divers  jii'csents  in  pay  for  the  provisions  and  stores 
plundered  l)y  his  crew.  The  caei(pu>'s  Avife  was  allowed 
to  remain  on  board,  with  her  daughter,  at  her  own  re- 
quest, she  having  become  enamored  of  the  captive  Caonabo. 
This  distinguished  cliit'ftain  died  before  the  vessels  reaeh- 
ed  S[)ain. 

The  Carib  tribes  wlio  occupied  the  islands  where  the 
race  Avas  hrst  <'ncountcred  by  Kuropeans,  maintained  pos- 
session of  tlu'ir  homes  as  long  as  eourage  antl  desperatiou 
could  avail  against  the  superior  skill  and  weapons  of  the 
whites.  Spanish  cupidity,  and  love  of  novelty  and  ad- 
venture led  to  the  gradual  oe(aipation  of  the  Caribbee 
islands.  In  some  of  them,  bloody  battles  wen*  fought :  ''  At 
St.  Christopher's,"  according  to  the  liev.  \V.  II.  Ihvtt,  "in 
l()2o,  two  thousand  C'aril)s  })erished  in  battle,  whilst  their 
European  invaders  lost  one  hundred  men.  In  the  other 
islands  their  losses  were  equally  great.  These  calamities 
would  cause  a  migration  of  the  natives  wdien  they  ibund  it 
iLseless  to  fight  any  more.  Some  of  the  islands,  as  Mar- 
tinico,  were  suddenly  abandoned  by  them,  alter  a  lierce 
but  unavailing  struggle. 

Those  of  the  Caribs  who  chose  to  forsake  the  islands 
entirely,  would  naturally  take  refuge  with  their  brethren 


<< 


J    , 


V'J?:^;.  •<'-.*'.| 


'   .  :". 

■'a 

•  f 

.51 
1 

m 

lllj 

:^i>^. 


■T-t^^' 


512 


INDIAN   HACKS  OF  AMKItlCA. 


already  sctllod  iii  Guiana,  and  liy  llioir  valor  secure  to 
themselves  such  portions  of  the  eouutrv  as  they  niiglit 
think  ])V(iper  to  oeeujiy;  as  lew  tribes  would  he  ahle,  or 
indeed  dare,  lo  oi)])osc  them.  A  remnant  ol'  the  Caribs 
still  remained  at  St.  Vincent,  and  tluy  were  transported, 
about  the  end  of  the  last  century,  to  the  island  of  Kuattan, 
in  the  bay  of  Honduras." 

This  once  terrible  and  dreaded  race — so  dreaded  by  the 
Spaniards  that  vague  rcjioils  uf  the  approach  of  an  army 
of  Caribs  could  terrify  the  eoncpierors  of  Peru  in  the  midst 
of  their  successes — is  now  reduced  to  a  few  insignilicant 
tribes.  '^I'hey  arc  scattered  iu  the  wildei'uess  of  Ciuiana, 
aijd  mingled  with  other  nations  of  the  intei'ior.  About 
the  upper  waters  of  the  iVmeroon  is  one  of  their  most 
considerable  establishments,  aud  the  tribe  there  hx-ated 
numbers  but  a  ihw  hundred  savages,  living  iu  almost  as 
primitive  a  state  as  when  Columbus  lirst  coasted  along 
these  tropical  shores. 


CIIArXER  IV. 

IN'D]...VS  OF  GUIANA  ANn  VFCNK/rKLA CLASSIFICATION TlIK   AKA- 

WAKS FUiST  SEKN   liY  COLU.MIIUS EMKV   INTO  TIIK  (iULF  OF 

PARIA HOSPITAMTY  OF  THE  NATIVES — nAEKICIl's  VISIT 

TO  THE  ORINOCO EARI.V  WARS  OF  THE  AKAWAKS 

VICTOnV  OVER  THE  CAI.MI'.S MAROON  NK(.ROES 

PRESENT    CONDITION  OF  THE   AKAWAKS 

OTHER  TRIIiKS  OF  TIIK  INTERIOR 

GENERAL   UESCRIPTION. 

The  tribes  who  inhabit  the  wilderness  between  the 
I  Amazon  and  the  sea-ci)ast  settlements  at  the  north,  upon 
I  the  Caril)bean  sea  and  the  Atlantic,  have  l)een  classified  as 
belonging  to  the  same  iiimily  with  the  aboriginal  inliabit- 


r  valor  secure  to 
try  as  Uiey  luiglit 
\V(.mkl  1)0  a1)le,  or 
lant  of  the  Caribs 
Averc  transported, 
;  island  of  Huattan, 

-^so  dreaded  l)y  tlio    . 
proach  of  an  army 
f  Peru  in  the  midst 

ii  few  iiisijz-nilicant 
derucss  of  Uuiaiiii, 
LO  interior.     About 

one  of  tbeir  most 

tribe  tliero  located 
living  in  almost  as 

lirst  coasted  along 


ricATION TlIK    ARA- 


V 


II 


INTO  TUK  (iiri.K  OF 
— RAr.KIini's  VISIT 

K  AllAWAKS 

ON  NKIiHOES 
AilAWAKS 
KIOU 


:s 


e 


>rness  between  the 
at  the  nt)rtli,  upon 

ve  l)con  classified  as 
aboriginal  inhabit- 


:  X 

»  " 

K  ^ 

-  a      , 


:  -5'    * 

-   3    *^ 


i  I 

3     £. 


i      * 


ri 


>4 

5 


c. 
3 


B 

r. 

e. 


■  •■.^■■'?*-.    «,■   *. 


.^ii-^: 


mi 


A''h 


•    Mi 


]^c 


I  fj 


;^. 


.'1  -'' 

"ft  -■, 


4i 


.1 1 


mm 


TUIHES  or  THE  WEST  INDIES,  ETC. 


oi:] 


ants  of  Bnizil.  Tlic  moo  has  Itoen  (IciioiniiKitcMl  tin; 
"lirasilio  (jiuiaraiii,"  and  has  been  (Uvuled  into  the  nations 
ofCinarani,  Carihs,  Tnpi,  and  I'xitocndos. 

In  (iniana  one  111'  the  most  prominent  tribes  is  that  of 
the  Aruwaks.  These  people  iidud)it  a  great  cxtcMit  of 
conntry  directly  back  of  the  nannw  strip  of  enltivatod 
sea-coast.  Nearly  the  wlioh;  of  their  territory  is  a  savage 
wilderness,  in  which  the  traveller  in  vain  seeks  for  any 
cvitlence  of  i>rogres8,  or  any  tokens  lA'  I'ormei'  civ  ili/alion 
and  prosperity.  A  few  rude  (Iguros,  marked  ni)on  the 
rocks  in  certain  localities,  are  the  only  records  of  the  nuni- 
hcrless  giMierations  wh'i'h  have  passed  away,  leaving  their 
ilcscendants  ])reeisely  in  the  situation  of  those  who  pre- 
(X'ded  them,  and  as  hopeless  or  careless  of  improvement. 
The  Arawaks  were  the  liist  natives  seen  hy  Coliind)US, 
upon  the  occasiuii  of  his  discovery  of  the  continent  of 
South  America,  in  the  summer  of  l-tliy. 

The  lirst  land  made  was  the  island  of  Trinidad,  al  the 
mouth  ol'  the  great  river  Orinoco.  No  Indians  were  seen 
upon  the  island  by  a  {'arty  sent  on  shore,  although  unmis- 
takable tokens  of  a  recent  and  hasty  ivlreat  were  visibU'. 
As  the  vessels  approached  the  Seriicnt's  Mouth,  (tlu^south- 
cru  entrance  to  the  gulf  of  Paria,)  twenty -live  of  the 
natives  made  their  appearance  in  a  canoe.  To  the  aston- 
ishment (jftla^  admii'al,  who  had  expected,  from  the  I'cports 
at  IIis})aniola,  to  (iud  a  race  of  negroes  in  these  southern 
latitudes,  they  were  of  lighter  complexion  than  any  with 
whom  he  had  before  held  intercourse.  Their  figures  were 
well  proi)()rtioned  and  graceful;  their  only  cloiliing  was  a 
sort  of  turban,  and  a  waistband  of  colored  cotton;  and 
their  arms  were  bows  and  arrows.  When  an  attempt  was 
made  to  conciliate  these  wild  voyagers  by  dancing  t!nd 
music,  it  was  nii.staken  for  a  sign  of  hostility,  and  the  sup- 
posed war-dance  was  summarily  sto]ti)ed  by  a  llight  of 
arrows.  The  suspicions  of  the  natives  prevented  the 
33 


', « 


•■,  -J  ■ 
.'t 


i '>•>:•  u 


rr  ■'  . 


5M 


INDIAN  UACKS  OF  AMKUICA. 


()|i('iiiii^'  of  iuiv  cMjiiiiiiiiiiiciitioii  with  llu'tii  iiiilil  uf'lrr  iIk; 
cMitry  (>r  llio  sliipH  into  tho  gulf.  Scvonil  <»!'  tlioiti  wens 
tluMi  taken  by  upsetting  tlieir  cunoo,  mid,  ivfk'r  being  kindly 
cntrcjitcil  iiiul  encouriigcd,  \v(!ro  disini.-si'd  with  tlit^  usual 
presents  of  trinkets  and  liuwks'-bells.  When  the  frai's  of 
the  inhubitants  were  dissipate(l  by  this  proeednre,  th(y 
were  eager  to  erowd  about  tho  vessels  in  their  canoes. 
These  latter  were  of  excellent  construction  ami  large  size; 
some  of  them  wore  even  furnished  with  a  cabin. 

'J'ho  caci(pio  of  tho  county  rcca-ived  the  Spaniards  athin 
house  with  the  greatest  respect  and  hospitality,  and  feasted 
them  upon  whatever  bixurii-s  the  fruitful  soil  produceil. 
"Nothing,"  says  Irving,  "could  exceed  tho  kindness  ami 
ar^'tv  of  this  people,  heighteneil  as  it  was  by  an  intelligent 
demeanour  antl  a  martial  frankness.  They  seemed  worthy 
of  the  beautiful  I'ountry  they  inhabited.  It  was  a  canst;  of 
great  concern,  both  to  them  and  to  the  Spaniards,  that  tiny 
could  not  understand  each  other.s'  language." 

Sir  Walter  Raleigh  entered  the  Orinoco  in  tho  year  IHOij, 
and  brought  homo  some  account  (;f  tin;  natives  seen  there. 
As  recorded  by  Purchas:  "Tho  inhabitants  on  the  North- 
erne  branches  are  the  Tiuitiuas,  a  goodly  and  valiant  ])eoplc, 
whieli  haue  tho  most  maidy  spee(;h  and  most  ileliberate 
(saith  Sir  Walter)  that  euor  I  heard  of  whatever  Nation 
sooner.  In  the  Sunnner  they  haue  houses  on  the  ground, 
'^  K'm^  Abihfia  Jis  in  other  places:  in  tho  Winter  they  dwelt 
vi)ou  the  trees,"  where  they  Ijuilt  very  aitili- 
ciall  ^''ownes  and  Villages;  for  betwci-ne 
May  and  Se[)teinber  the  Hiuor  of  Orenoqiu' 
riscth  tliirtio  foot  vi)right,  and  thou  are  those 
Islands  ouer-flowen  twentie  foot  high,  except  in  some  few 
raised  grounds  in  the  middle.  This  waterie  store,  when 
tho  clouds  arc  so  jjrodigall  of  more  then  the  Kiners  store- 
honse  can  holil,  whereby  they  became  violent  intruders 
and  iucroacliors  vpon  tho  land,  and  not  tho  violence  of 


dwelt  (in  a  tree 

in   the  rountpy 

of  Darieim. 

Pel.  Miirlyr: 

Dec.  3.  lib.  fi. 


rJ^ 


'1  'A  ',■  •{' 


UA. 

(Mil  utilil  iifu-r  tlu! 
,«ral  t)l'  thi'iii  wcrt) 

^c^\  with  tin'  usual 
^VluMl  tilt!  loairt  ()(■ 
in  protictliuv,  tiny  {^ 
■Is  ill  their  canoes, 
lion  ami  laryosi/o; 
[i  tt  eaniii.  j 

the  Spaiiianls  at  his 
ij.itality,  unil  feaste.l 
ill'ul  soil  pnxlueeil. 
il  the  kiuiliiess  ami 
vashy  an  intelligent 
LMieV  seeinetl  worlhy 
I.  It  was  .1  cause  ol' 
Si)aniar(ls,  that  they 

iK'()intheyearir)95, 

10  natives  seen  there. 

itatits  on  the  North- 

aiitl  valiant  peojile, 

nil  most  ilelilieratc 

r  what(!ver  Natinii 

i\ises  on  the  grouml, 
;  Winter  they  dwelt 
H'V  built  very  artili- 

au-es;    for   hetweeiic 
Uiuer  of  Orenoquf 

t.  and  thou  are  those 
'xcept  in  some  few 
wateric  store,  when 
icn  the  lliuers  store- 

nc  violent  intruders 
not  the  violence  of 


TlimKS  OF  TIIK  U'KST  INDIKH,  KTC. 


515 


cold,  ^diietli  this  time  the  titl(>  of  Winter.  'I'lieso  Tiuitinns 
neuer  eat  of  any  tliin;^  tliat  is  set  or  .sowne;  Natures  nurs- 
liiif^s,  tiiat  neither  at  home  nor  abroad,  will  be  beholden 
to  the  art  or  labour  of  Ilnsbandrie.  'I'liey  vs(!  the  tops 
of  Palinitos  lor  bread,  and  kill  1  >ecre,  Kisli,  and  l\)rke, 
for  the  rest  of  their  susteiianee.  They  which  dwell  vpon 
the  branches  of  the  ()reno(|ue,  call(>d  ^^(//*'/;v' und  .Ifunnyn^ 
are  for  the  most  2)art  Carpenters  of  Caiioa.s,  which  th(>y 
sell  into  (luianiv  for  j^'old,  and  into  Trini<lado  for  'i'abatro, 
in  the  exee.s.siiie  takiiif;  whereof,  they  cxccimI  all  Nations. 
When  !i  Commander  dieth,  they  vse  great  lamentation,  and 
when  they  thinke  the  llesh  of  their  bodies  is  iiutrilied  and 
fallen  from  the  bones,  they  take  vp  the  karkas.^c  ag;iine, 
and  hang  it  vp  in  the  house,  where'  he  had  dwell,  decking 
his  skull  with  (I'athersof  all  colours,  and  hanging  his  gold- 
plates  about  the  bones  of  his  arms,  thighes  and  h>gges. 
The  Aririic(ts^  which  dwell  on  the  Smith  of  the  ()ren<)([UO, 
heat  the  bones  of  their  Lords  into  Powder,  whi<'h  their 
wines  ami  friends  drinke." 

in  eacly  times  the  Arawaks  were  engaged  in  perpetual 
Will's  with  the  (\u'ibs.  Those  of  the  latter  race,  who  inhab- 
ited the  nearest  Caribbciin  islands,  made  continual  descents 
upon  the  main,  but  are  .said,  finally,  to  have  been  worsted. 
The  Kev.  W.  II.  lirett  ret'ounts  some  of  tin;  traditions  still 
handed  down  among  the  Ar.iwaks  of  the.se  wars.  "'I'hey 
have,"  says  h(>,  "an  indistinct  idea  of  ciuelties  perpetrated 
by  the  Spaniards.  Tradition  has  pivserved  the  remcin- 
hranee  of  wdiite  men  clothed  with  '.scperari'  or  iron, 
who  drove  their  fathers  befon*  them,  and,  as  souk!  say, 
Imnted  them  with  dogs  through  the  forest.  Ibit  by  far 
the  greater  number  of  their  traditions  relate  to  engage- 
ments between  themselves  and  the  Caribs  on  the  main 
land."  With  peculiar  exultation  they  detail  the  particu- 
lars of  a  victory  obtained  over  a  great  body  of  these 
invaders  by  means  of  a  judicious  ambu.sli.     The  Arawaka 


i 

'1  ^1 

'       u 

t-'-" 

It  jm 

1      i' 

.1' 

ll-l 

i 

|9 

"     ^ 

c  '■ 

f^9 

. ''     i 

'1'/ 

'^ 

/H  . 

''''"'il 

% 

f;: 

t^^n 

1.' 

«... 

1^  Air  B^^l 

m  .- 

li 

i^ 

'"JiJH 

mm 


C16 


INDIAN   RACES  OF  AMEKICA. 


liad  fled  from  their  approach  to  tlic  low  marshy  country 
upon  the  Waini,  and  hiid  their  ambuscade  upon  eitlior 
side  of  the  narrow  chauuel  througli  which  the  enemy  were 
expected  to  i)ass.  "The  Caribs  arc  said  to  have  had  a 
great  number  of  canoes  of  Lirge  size,  which  followed  each 
other,  in  line,  through  the  mazy  channels  of  the  Savannah. 
As  they  rounded  a  certain  island,  their  painted  warriors 
in  the  first  canoe  were  transfixed  b}-  a  shower  «)f  arrows 
from  ar.  unseen  enemy  on  both  sides  of  them,  and  totally 
disabled.  Those  in  the  second  canoe  shared  the  same  fate; 
the  others,  who  could  not  see  what  had  ha})pened,  hurried 
forwf'vd  fo  ascertain  the  cause  (^1"  the  cries,  but  each  canoe, 
a.s  it  I'oo  jhed  the  fatal  spot,  was  saluted  by  a  deadly  shower 
of  arrows.  The  Arawaks  then  rushed  forward,  and  fought 
till  the  \ictorywas  completed.  It  is  said  that  only  two 
Caribs  suryiyed,  and  they  were  dismissed  by  the  Arawak 
chieftain,  on  jjromise  of  a  ransom  to  be  paid  in  cotton 
hammocks,  for  the  manufacture  of  which  their  nation 
is  noted," 

After  the  settlement  of  difficulties  between  the  ]'iUroj)e;iii 
colonists  of  Guiana  and  the  neighboring  Indian  tribes,  the 
introduction  of  negro  slayes  by  the  former  proved  a  ter- 
rible scourge  to  the  natives,  (Ireat  nundiers  (jf  the  Afri- 
cans escajied  from  their  masters  iiit()  the  Avilderness,  ami 
thcn^  foi'ining  predatory  bands,  were  long  a  tcrroi'  to  both 
whites  and  Indiiuis.  "The  accounts  which  the  Arawaks 
have  received  from  their  ancestors,  n^pi'cscnt  these  ncgrois 
as  equally  ferocious  with  the  Caril)s,  and  more  to  lie  dreadi'il 
on  account  of  their  superior  bodily  strength," 

The  Arawaks  of  the  present  day  are,  like  their  forcliith- 
ers,  a  more  mild  and  peaceable  race  than  many  ol'  their 
neighbors,  in  their  domestic  relations  and  general  man- 
ner of  life,  tiiey  do  not  dilfer  materially  from  the  genei'- 
ality  of  the  North  American  savages.  Togetiier  with  tlie 
rude  clulis,  bows  and  arrows,  &c,,  so  universal  among  bar- 


IICA. 

>w  mtirsliy  country   ,  \ 
ise-adc  upon  cither    i; 
ich  the  enemy  were    ', ' 
aid  to  have  had  a    ,^ 
'liicli  followed  eaeh    | ; 
Is  of  the  Savaiinali. 
ir  painted  warriors 
a  shower  of  arrows 
if  tlieni,  and  totally 
liarcd  the  same  fate; 
I  happened,  hurried 
ries,  hut  oaeh  ean(H\ 

by  a  deadly  shower 
forw^ard,  and  fou.iilit 

said  that  only  two 
ssed  hy  tlie  Arawak 
)  he  jiaid  in  cotton 

wliicli  their  nation 

!t\veen  the  Kurojiean 

ng  Indian  tribes,  tlie 
irnier  proved  a  ter- 
unbers  of  the  AtVi- 
the  wilderness,  and 

loni^  a  terror  to  both 

whieli  tl\e  Arawal<s 

)resent  these  negroes 

I  iiioretobcdreadeil 

ength." 

e,  like  their  forefatli- 
than  many  ol'  their 
IS  and  genei'al  man- 

idly  from  the  gener- 

Together  with  tlie 

iniversal  among  bar- 


TRIBES  OF  THE  WEST  INDIES,  ETC. 


517 


barons  nations,  they  have  the  more  efficient  weapons  of 
the  European.  The  Indian  is  every  where  quick  to  per- 
ceive the  advantage  of  lire-ar'ns,  and  apt  in  aeqniring  their 
use.  Cliristian  missionaries  have  devoted  themselves  with 
great  zeal  and  perseveraiu^  to  the  instruction  and  improve- 
ment of  tlus  tribe,  and  the  natural  kindly  disjiosition  of 
the  race  seems  to  llivor  the  undertaking. 

Besitles  the  Caribs  and  Araw'aks,  the  principal  Indian 
tribes  of  Guiana  are  the  Waraus,  and  the  W'^acuwoios ;  in 
adiiition  to  these  are  the  minor  naticms  of  the  Arecunas, 
Zapai'as,  ^Jerikongs,  Woyawais,  Pianoghottos,  kc,  tVc. 
^lost  of  these  arc;  barbarous  tribes,  not  sulfieiently  variant 
from  each  otlier  to  render  a  distinct  consideration  valuable 
or  intere'sting. 

'J'lie  vast  wilderness  which  they  inhabit  is  little  visited 
hy  whites,  b'roni  the  coast  settlements  the  only  available 
routes  into  the  interior  are  by  means  of  the  numerous  riv- 
ers, UjH)n  whose  baidvs  missiomiry  enterprise  has  here  and 
there  established  a  little  settlement  as  a  nucleus  for  future 
operations  among  the  natives  at  large.  From  Mr.  Ib'ett's 
narrative  of  his  own  observation  and  experience  in  these 
wilds,  we  quote  the  tbllowing  items  of  genei'al  deseripticm: 

''The  ap[iearanee  of  the  Indian  in  his  natural  state  is 
not  uiq)leasing  when  the  eye  has  become  accustomed  to 
his  scanty  attire,  lie  is  smaller  in  si/e  than  either  the 
Kuro|)eau  or  the  nc'gro,  nor  does  he  possess  the  bodily 
strength  of  either  of  thcsi>.  Few  of  his  race  exceed  jive 
feet  live  inches  in  height,  and  the  greater  number  are 
much  shorter.  'I'hey  are  generally  well  made;  many  are 
rather  stout 


jiroportion  to  tjuur  iieignt, 
rare  to  see  a  deformed  person  among  them. 


y 


In  res})cct  to  dr 


ess,  wliK 


h,  both  l(jr  men  and  women,  is 


of  the  most  se'anty  projxn'tions,  (consisting  oidy  of  a  band- 
age about  the  loins,  with  p<'rha[)s  a  few  ornamental  arti- 
cles of  feather-work  lor  state  occasions,)  the  ellbrts  of  the 


.'^^r; 


■■-i,i"  , 


■  ■  t    V  . 


■■■.•\"i  '■'%■ 


f 

''■•  ■.  ■■''•5* 

i 

,r  *v  '5  J 

1:1: 


518 


INDIAN  RACKS  OF   AMEIUCA. 


missionaries  have  cU'ected  some  change  in  tliose  brouglit 
under  their  influence.  In  a  burning  trojiical  clime,  the 
propriety  oi'  policy  of  such  fancied  iin[)rovenient  is  very 
questionable.  If  no  immodesty  is  coiuieeted  with  naked- 
ness in  the  eyes  of  the  unso})]usticated  natives,  it  would 
seem  hardly  worth  wlnle  to  enhghten  them  u})on  such  a 
subject,  for  the  purpose  of  establisliing  a  conlbrmity  to 
European  customs. 

Our  author  continues:  "Their  color  is  a  eo})per  tint, 
pleasing  to  the  eye,  and  the  skin,  where  constantly  covered 
from  the  sun,  is  little  darker  than  that  of  tlie  natives  of 
Southern  luiropc.  Tlieir  liair  is  .straiglit  and  coarse,  and 
continues  perfectly  blaelc  till  an  advanced  period  vi'  liic. 
The  general  ex})ression  of  the  face  is  pleasing,  tliungh  it 
vai'ies  with  the  tribe  and  the  disposition  of  each  peison. 
Their  eyes  are  black  and  piercing,  and  generally  slant  up- 
wards a  little  towards  the  tem[)le,  which  would  give  ;ui 
unpleasant  expression  to  the  face,  were  it  not  relieved  hv 
the  sweet  cx]>ressiou  of  the  mouth.  The  forehead  gen- 
erally recedes,  though  in  a  less  degree  than  in  the  African; 
there  is,  however,  much  difference  in  this  respect,  and  iu 
some  individuals  it  is  well  formed  and  prominent." 

The  usual  division  of  labor  among  savage  nations  is 
observed  in  Guiana.  The  daily  drudgeiy  of  the  lu)Useliokl 
belongs  to  the  women,  wlio  also  cultivate  the  small  fields 
in  wliieh  the  yuca,  (the  root  fr(;m  wliicl  they  make  their 
bread,)  and  the  other  cultivated  crops  ai-e  raised,  'i'hc 
men  pursue  their  hunting  and  fishing,  and  undertake  the 
more  severe  labors  attendant  uj)()u  tlie  building  their  huts, 
the  clearing  of  new  ground,  &e. 

The  native  dwelling  is  generally  little  more  than  a  roof 
of  palmdeaf  thatch  supported  uj)on  })()sts,  between  which 
hang  the  cotton  hammocks  in  which  the  oceui)ants  sleep. 
Some  few  implements  of  iron-ware,  and  articles  of  ])ottery 
of  a  more  substantial  and  practical  foi-m  than  that  manu- 


tie  more  tliim  a  reof 
xt.sls,  between  which 
the  occupants  sh^o]). 
1(1  artitsles  of  pottery 
lorni  than  that  nianu- 


lEIBES  OF  TUE  WEST  INDIES,  ETC. 


519 


facturcd  by  themselves,  are  generally  procnrcd  by  trado 
with  the  coast,  but  these  are  all  of  the  simplest  description. 
Maize,  with  cassava,  yams,  potatoes  and  other  roots, 
constitutes  their  principal  vegetable  food.  The  cassava  is 
prepared  by  grating,  or  scraping,  and  subsequent  pressure 
in  a  receptacle  of  basket-work.  Tliis  strainer  is  constructed 
ill  the  form  of  a  "long  tube,  open  at  the  top  and  closiul  at 
the  bottom,  to  which  a  strong  loop  is  attaclied.  The  [tulpy 
mass  of  cassava  is  placed  in  this,  and  it  is  suspended  from 
a  beam.  One  end  of  a  large  staff  is  tlieii  jihiced  tliroiigh 
the  loop  at  the  bottom,  the  woman  sits  upon  the  centre  of 
the  staff,  or  attaches  a  heavy  stone  to  the  end,  and  the 
weight  stretches  the  clastic  tube,  which  presses  the  cassava 
inside,  causing  the  juice  to  flow  through  the  interstices  of 
the  plaited  material  of  which  it  is  made.  This  liquor  is 
carefully  collected  in  a  vessel  placed  beneath.  It  is  a  ino.st 
deadly  poison;  but  after  being  bcjiled,  it  becomes  pericctly 
wholesome,  and  is  the  nutritious  sauce,  called  easarcep, 
which  forms  the  principal  ingredient  in  the  pcppcr-})ot,  a 
favourite  dish  of  the  country." 


'",'>' 


;;:Wi  ::,■ 


'-M^^.  >- 


■  V  ■  '*  ■ 

"i  ^m 

fl 

',!;'  HI 

b»l 

THE  ABORIGINES  OF  PERU. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PUVSIf'AI,   rKcriJAniTIKS  ok  Tllli   quiciiuas,  aymauas,  atacamas, 

AM)  CIIANGOS NATl'liK  OF  THE  COUNTRY PERUVIAN  WORKS  OF 

ART,  ETC. riKST  IM'.'MORS  OF  THE  WEALTH  OF  THE  roUNTKV — 

EXPEDITION  OF  PASCHAL   I)E  ANDAliOYA FRANCISCO  PIZAR- 

KO  :  HIS  FIRST  VOVACE  OF  DISCOVERY ALMAUKo's  VOYAGE 

CONTRACT  OF  PIZARllO,  AEMACiRO,  AND  MlCiUli THE 

SECOND  lATEDITION I'lZAliliO  AND  HIS  COMPANIONS 

IPON   THE    ISI.E  OF  (iOKliONA CONTINUATION    OF 

THi:   VOVACE TCMEEZ RETCRN    TO    PANAMA. 

TllK  Pcnn  inn  and  Ar;uic;uii:m  Taccs  alone,  among  tlie 
South  AiMcrican  aborigines,  present  subjects  ol'  interest  to 
tlic  liistoriun.  The  other  tril,es  of  that  great  portion  ol' 
the  western  eontineiit  are  at  an  iiiluiite  remove  Irom  these 
in  the  scale  of  civilization,  and  can  scarce  be  said  to  have 
any  sepai-ate  national  liistoiy.  We  shall  describe  their 
habits  and  [divsical  ap[iearant'e,  i:  ueh  as  we  should  enter 
upon  the  duties  ol' the  wri'"f  upon  natural  histi)i'y:  an 
utteinjit  to  arrange  u  serial  narrati\e  ol'  events,  as  con- 
nected with  them  would  l)e  useless. 

Witleiy  eontrastetl  with  the  wild  and  savag(>  tribes  oi' 
the  iateritu,  and  di'  the  eastern  coast,  the  JVu'uviaiis  oH'cr, 
ill  their  character  am)  history,  a  fruiHiil  theme  II >r  the 
atteiiticm  .'Uid  research  ol'  the  historian  and  the  philoso- 
pli'.''.  As  a  nation,  they  were,  when  discovered  by  Ivu'u- 
peans,  perfectly  unicpie.     Such  reiincnients  in  government, 


'y'.::::--tr 


PERU. 


AYMAUAS,  ATACAMAS, 
I'KKUVIAN  WOUKS  OF 
OF  TlIK  COUNTRY — 
■  FKAN'CISCO  IMZAK- 
,MA(;IU)'S  VOYAGE 
SI)   MHlUK— THE 
IS  COMPANIONS 
INUATION    OF 
h)    PANAMA. 


alone,  among  tlio 

ccts  of  intorost  to 
t  !j;n!at  portion  of 

.■move  iVoni  these 
vo  bo  f^a'ul  to  Ikivo 

lU  describe  their 
as  \ve  shovihl  enter 
atui'al  history:  an 
ul'  events  as  con- 


-n 


1  savage  tribes  of 
le  J'eriivians  oiler, 
ll'iil  theme  for  the 
n  and  the  philoso- 
lisi'overed  by  Kuro- 
ents  in  government, 


fm 


^k^-;,^.. 


^ 


m  ^■■■■ 


f'li  .1  .VCI  S(    ,1      r  I  /..I  H  H  1) 


.^^-T: 


v1  U ..  V . 


*>■>'    '- 


t' ..  's     *      • 


:| 


SOUTU  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


521 


such  unity  of  purpose,  and  such  perfect  system,  as  were 
observable  in  all  their  customs  and  usages,  have  never  been 
even  atteinptetl,  much  less  accomplished,  by  auy  other 
connuunity  throughout  the  globe. 

'jlie  j)hysical  conformation  of  the  Qnichua  race,  the 
most  prominent  among  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  Peru,  is 
somewhat  singular.  The  efibcts  of  liviiitr  at  such  an  im- 
niense  elevation  as  that  of  many  of  their  cities,  and  of  the 
great  plateaus  which  they  inhabit  among  the  Andes,  cause 
a  remarkable  development  of  the  chest.  The  rarity  of  the 
air  in  mountainous  districts  render  a  much  greater  volume 
of  it  necessary  in  respiration,  '^fhe  Quichuas  have  there- 
fore, according  to  M.  d'Orbigny,  "very  large,  square 
shoulders,  a  broad  chest,  very  voluminous,  highly  arched, 
and  longer  than  usual,  which  increases  the  size  of  the 
truidc.  •^'  "  The  extremities  are  nevcrtheli>ss,  verv  muscu- 
lar, and  bespeak  great  strength;  the  lu'ad  is  larger  than 
usual  in  }H'oportiou  to  the  rest  of  the  body ;  the  hands  and 
loot  are  always  small." 

The  (.Quichuas  dilVer,  in  a  marked  manner,  I'rom  most  of 
the  other  South  American  nations,  in  the  leatures  of  the 
countenance.  These  are  said  in  some  degree  to  api)roach 
the  Mexican  type.  A  prominent  acquiline  nose,  large  nos- 
trils, the  forehead  somewhat  retreating,  a  nioderatrly  lull 
cerebral  development,  rather  a  large  mouth,  adoi'ued  with 
fine  teeth,  and  a  short  butAvell  delined  chin,  mav  be  L;iveu 
as  generally  charactei  istic  of  the  race. 

The  Quiclmas  have  beautifully  si>ft,  thick,  and  llowing 
hair,  but  are  almost  destitute  of  beards,  ^fheir  eomplex- 
ion  is  a  brown  olive,  entirely  distinct  from  the  reddish  or 
copper  hue  of  most  of  the  North  American  Indians.  It 
ajiproaches  that  of  the  nudatto  more  ni'arly  than  that  of 
the  other  American  aborigines,  and  is  spoken  of  as  singu- 
larly uniform.  They  are  of  low  statui'e,  jmi'ticularly  those 
who  live   in  the  more  elevated  rcaions.     Their  general 


tr: 


ii^i'^    •  J 


-I   ■. 


trJ 


■", 

rif-J 

i- 

■yi 

'  'J  '1 

{•: 

'.',' 

i '  3 

^f 

H;, 

■,'^4§ 

;'<t 

.;. 

t|-| 

i^ 

:|| 

:•,(.: 


■i:< 


Ht 


t\09 

OJjJi 


INDIAN  KACKS  OF  AMEllIcJA. 


])livsu)n-noinA',  in  tlio  words  of  llio  aullior  above  citod,  "is, 
iijioii  tlio  '.vliok',  uiiil'oriii,  serious,  ivlKrlivc,  iiiciaiiclioly, 
Avitlioiit,  lunvc'vor,  showing  iiidilloiviK'e:  it  dt'iiotos  nitlicr 
])('neti'atioii  witlioiit  IVunkness.  ■■•■  "  'I'hcii-  features  alto- 
getliei'  retain  a  niedioerity  t)f  expicssiou.  'I'Ik;  wouicii 
arc  seldom  very  Liaiidsonie;  their  noses  arc  not  so  jinnni- 
iient  or  curved  as  those  of  tlie  men:  tlie  hitter,  althougli 
they  liave  no  heard,  Iiave  a  niaseuHne  cxprt'ssion,  (K'rived 
from  tlieir  strongly-marked  I'eatures.  An  aneit'ut  vase, 
Avliieh  re})ivsents  with  striking  lidelity,  th(>  I'eatui'es  of  the 
present  race  of  (.^uiehuas  eonvinees  ns  that  lor  iljur  and 
live  centuries  their  jdiysiognomy  has  undeigoiu!  no  sen- 
sible altenition." 

The  Aymai'as,  the  second  in  the  grand  division  of  tlir 
]Vi'u\iaii  races,  bear  a  close  J'csend)lant'e  to  those  just 
described.  In  early  times  the  strange  and  unnatural  cus- 
tom of  llattening  the  lu\id  obtained  among  them,  as  is  fidlv 
proved  by  the  contour  of  many  skulls  Ibund  in  their 
ancient  places  of  burial  or  deposit. 

No  material  variation  iVom  the  Quichuan  bodily  ii)rnia- 
tion  is  noticeable  in  the  Atacanias,  who  inhabit  tlu,'  western 
slope  of  the  Andes;  but  the  Changos,  dwelling  ui^on  the 
hot  levels  of  the  .sea-coast,  "are  of  (".ai'ker  hue:  their 
colour  is  a  tawny,  approaching  to  black." 

'J'he  country  inhabiteil  by  these  three  races,  although 
lying  within  the  tropics,  and  in  eei'tain  localitit'S  luxuri- 
antly ]'ich  and  fertile,  presents  obstacles  to  the  agricultur- 
alist, which  would  seem  almost  insurmountable.  Nothing 
but  the  whole  industry  of  a  great  naticju,  directed  .'^ysteiu- 
atically  to  the  work  of  J'cclannition  and  improvement, 
could  ever  ha\e  made  Peru  what  it  was  in  the  days  of 
the  Incas. 

A  flat  and  sterile  plain,  wa.shed  by  the  Pacific,  forms  the 
western  boundary  of  the  ancient  empire.  On  this  district 
rain  never  falls;  at  leu.st,  the  few  drojis  which  at  certain 


I 


UA. 

ir  ;il)ovc  cited,  "is, 
clive,  nu'liUK'lioly, 
■:  it  lU'Uoles  ratlicr 
'lu'ir  (('atiin'S  aho- 
■^ioii.  Tilt'  wuiiu'ii 
<  aiv  not  so  jiroiiii- 
Llie  lattor,  altlH)U,i:li 
oxpivssiou,  (U'l'lvril 
An  niu'ii'iit  vase, 
,  tlic  I'calurrs  ol'tlic 
;  that  I'or  lour  and 
uutlcrgont!  no  si'u- 

■and  lUvi^^ion  ol'  tlir 
lant'C  to  tlioSL'  just 
'  and  unnatural  cus- 
ong  tlieni,  as  is  fully 
ills   Ibiind   in   their 

clman  bodily  loiina- 

)  inhabit  tlic  wrstmi 

,  dwelling  upon  the 

r.ai'ker  Inic:  their 

live  races,  although 
n  loealitii'S  luxuri- 
's  to  the  agrieultur- 

iountal)le.  Nothing 
Ml,  directt'd  system- 
and    iniproveniont, 

was  in  the  days  of 


le  Pacific,  forms  the 
re.  On  this  district 
ops  which  at  certain 


SOUTH  AMEinCAN  INDIANS. 


023 


eoasons  sprinkle  tlie  surface,  are  insiiiricient  to  avail  in  the 
slightest  degree  for  the  jtromotion  of  fertility.  l*"roia  the 
stu[)end(nis  mountain  ranges  which  extend  in  an  unbroken 
course  througliout  the  western  se.;-l)oard  of  South  Ameri- 
ca, impetuous  torrents  i)onr  de),vn  thi'ough  the  jilaina 
toward  the  sea,  and,  by  a  laborious  and  ingenious  diver- 
sion, these  streams  were  led  by  the  ancient  Peruvians  in 
long  and  massive  aijueducts  to  irrigate  the  plain  or  the 
tei-raees  wrought  U])oii  the  steep  sides  of  the  mountains. 
Some  nK.iition  has  been  made,  in  a  Ibrmer  chapter,  of  the 
riiir;;  which  still  remain  to  aitest  tiie  advancement  and  en- 
tcr])rise  of  the  ancient  Peruvians,  particularly  of  the  great 
roads  by  which  ready  commiuiication  was  ojiened  over  the 
niost  rugged  and  naturally  impassable  country  in  the  world. 
A  further  descri})tion  of  some  of  these  relics  will  be  given 
hereafter,  as  connected  with  their  wonderful  system  of 
government,  and  its  eftects  in  the  accomplishment  of 
public  works. 


Mexico  had  already  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  Span- 
iards, and  their  settlements  had  long  been  established  upon 
the  Isthmus,  before  the  world  ol)t;iined  any  knowledge 
of  the  western  coast  of  South  America.  The  national 
thirst  for  gold,  only  the  more  excited  by  the  succesi-jcs  in 
contest  with  the  Aztecs,  Avas  roused  anew  by  rejiorts  gath- 
ered from  the  natives  of  the  Isthmus,  of  a  far  richer  and 
moi'c  magniliccnt  empire  at  the  South. 

Th(!  iirst  attemi)t  to  ex])lore  the  coast  to  the  southward 
had  been  made  in  1522,  by  Pascual  de  Andagoya,  but 
he  proceeded  no  further  than  the  Puerto  de  Pinas,  near 
the  mouth  of  the  small  river  Biru.  Two  yeai-s  passed 
away  without  any  farther  discoveries,  at  the  end  of  which 
time,  the  matter  was  taken  in  hand  by  a  man  whose  char- 
acter leaves  us  at  a  loss  whether  we  should  the  more  ad- 


Lb: 


'■,  'O. 


;  >  >.' 


.;,.'*' 


5'J-l 


INDIAN  RACES  OK  AMEUIOA. 


■•.■".» 


niirc  liis  courago,  fortitiulo,  ;uul  iiHlomitfiblc!  etu^rgy,  or 
oxoc'.rate  liis  cruelty  and  uiis('rii|)uluus  rapacity.  Tliin  man 
was  Francisco  Pi/arro.  Jfc  was,  at  this  time,  uluvit  liCty 
years  of  age,  tlio  last  ten  oi  which,  at  least,  he  had  passed 
amid  the  stirring  scenes  of  discovery  and  contpiest  in  the 
New  World.  Ife  had,  among  other  adventures,  shared 
the  dang(>rs  and  the  exultation  of  N'asco  Nugne/.  tie  Hal- 
l)(\i,  in  his  first  ])assage  of  the  Isthmus,  and  iiis  discovery 
of  the  Western  (K'can.  lie  was  now  residing  near 
I'anama,  and  is  said  to  have  accumulated  but  a  small 
landed  ])ri)perty  as  the  reward  of  his  long  hibors  and 
privations. 

I'izarro  was  the  ilk'gitimate  son  of  acoloiirl  of  iid'antry, 
named  (Jonzalo  I'izarro,  and  a  woman  of  low  rank,  resid- 
ing at  Truxilio,  in  Spain,  in  which  city  the  future  con- 
(pieror  was  born,  in  ihe  great  ent(M'|)rise  of  th(i  concjiicst 
of  Peru,  he  was  assoeiati'd  with  one  Diego  de  Almagro,  a 
man  of  more  uncertain  origin,  and  K-ss  favored  by  woi'ldly 
jtrosperity,  even  tlian  himself  This  companion  in  arms 
was,  at  all  events,  a  bravo  and  gallant  soldier.  Kortnnatvly 
for  the  two  adventurers,  they  succeeded  in  securing  tlu' 
assistance  of  Hernando  de  Luque,  an  ecclesiastic  occupicil 
in  the  (bitiesof  his  profession  at  I'anama.  With  such  luuds 
as  could  be  raised  b)'  these  three,  a  vessel  was  ])rocui't'il, 
and  about  one  hundred  men  were  enlisted  to  share  tlir 
danger  and  profits  of  the  expedition.  Pedrarias,  the  Sjiaii- 
ish  governor,  sanctioned  the  j)roeeeding,  stipulating,  attiic 
same  time,  for  a  ])ro})ortion  of  the  gold  that  should  he 
brought  home. 

In  November,  lo24,  Pizarro  set  sail,  leaving  Almagro 
to  prepare  another  vessel  which  they  had  purchased,  ami 
to  fjllow  as  soon  as  possible.  Nothing  but  disaster  markrd 
this  first  voyage.  Storms  at  sea;  coidlicts  with  natives  on 
shore;  sickness,  exposure,  and  starvation,  thinned  the  num- 
bers  and  broke  down  the  spiirit  of  the  party.      Pi/arru 


;a. 

ii{al)U;  ciu"r^7,  or 
pacity.    This  iiiiiu 
I.  time,  iibont  lU'ty 
last,  liL'  had  passed 
lid  c'()M(\uost  in  tlu> 
idvoiituivs,  shaml 
i-o  "Nu,<j;ne/  dc  Bui- 
and  his  discovery 
ow    residing    near 
dated  but  a  small 
s  U)n<:^  labors  and 


colonel  of  infantry, 
of  low  rank,  n-sid- 
!ity  the  future  row- 
rise  ol'  tli(^  i'on(iurst 
iego  (U-  Alniauio,  a 
favored  by  worldly 
eonipanion  in  arms 
)ldicr.     Fortunately 
d  in  securinfx  the 
elesiastie  oeenpied 
Withsueh  funds 
ssel  was  ])roenreil, 
isted  to  share  the 
Vdrarias,  the  Span- 
r,  stii)ulating,  at  the 
)id  that  should  he 


.•( 


il,  leavin,t>-  Mniajrro 
lad  purehased.  and 
Imt  disaster  marked 
icts  with  natives  (111 
)i),  thinned  the  nnm- 
he  party.      Pl/arro 


SOUTH  AMEltlOAN  INDIANS. 


525 


alone  appears  to  have  maintained  an  unshaken  fortitude 
and  detenu imitiou. 

No  })rovisions  could  be  procured  at  the  spots  where  the 
voyagers  lauded,  and  it  became  necessary  to  send  the  ves- 
sel back  for  supplies.  About  lialf  the  company,  under 
one  Montenegro,  was  dispatcihed  for  this  purpose,  leaving 
the  rest  of  the  advtMiturers  upon  the  swampy,  unwhole- 
some coast,  not  far  from  tiie  mouth  of  tlie  IVirii,  to  support 
themselves  as  best  they  could  anud  an  almost  impenetrable 
wilderness  of  rank  troj)ical  vegetation.  Nearly  hall'  their 
nund)er  perished  before  any  relief  was  ohtained.  When 
at  tlu!  extrenuty  of  distress,  the  sight  of  a  distant  light 
amid  the  forest  awakeiu'd  their  hopes,  and  I'izarro,  with 
a  small  si-outing  l)arty,  led  by  this  token  of  human  habit- 
ation, pencil  rated  the  thicket  to  an  Indian  villagt*.  His 
hungry  followers  seized  on  whatever  olVered.  As  the  na- 
tives, who  had  at  first  lied  in  terror,  gradually  ai)proached 
and  held  communication  with  them,  their  hopes  were  again 
roviveil  by  the  sight  of  rude  ornaments  in  gold,  and  by 
the  confirmation  of  the  reports  coueeriiing  a  rich  empire 
at  the  south. 

It  was  six  weeks  from  the  tunc  of  his  departure  before 
Montenegro  returned  to  rescue  his  remaining  companions. 
With  renewed  hope  and  zeal,  the  party  reembarkcMl,  and 
continued  to  coast  along  the  shore.  Alter  landing  at  other 
places,  and  experiencing  severe  encounters  with  the  war- 
like natives,  it  was  found  necessary  to  return  to  Panama 
to  relit. 

Almagro,  in  the  mean  time,  had  followt'd  in  the  same 
course,  with  tlie  second  vessel,  and  landed  at  mo.st  of  the 
places  visited  by  IMzarro.  He  was  more  sucicessful  in  his 
engagements  with  the  natives  than  the  first  party  had 
proved;  and  succeeded  in  extending  his  voyage  as  iar 
south  as  the  river  of  San  Juan.  At  iliis  place  uumistake- 
able  tokens  of  approach  to  a  well-cultivated  and  iidiab- 


■.  {■' 


i       I 


rm 


LVDIAX   UACKH  OF  AMKUrCA. 


IUmI  c'oiititi'v  ))ros(Mitc'(l  tlitMiisclvcs.  l^'iiidiii'^  no  fiirtlicr 
traces  ol'  l*i/,arr(>  ami  his  coinpaiiioiis,  and  sii|i|iosiii;^  that 
tlicy  must  liavo  pcrislu'd  or  liav(>  lu'cii  ('(>iii|icll('il  to  ivtiirn, 
Aliiiajfro  now  lurmil  liis  coiirsi'  towards  I'miauia.  lie 
hroiight  lionii^  nioiT  ;j'oId  and  niorr  liivoralilr  rrporls  than 
Ids  })artner;  but  tin!  disasters,  losses,  and  miserabh)  eon- 
dition  of  the  (irst  voya^'ers  tended  to  tlirow  ahuost  iiisur- 
nK)untaI)le  obstaeles  in  the  way  <•!'  a  second  attenipl. 

The  threo  confederates — I'i/,arro,  Alnia^'^io,  and  l-'ather 
I,U(|ue — contiiiue(l  as  san;^Miine  as  evi'r.  Tiie  necessary 
I'lnids  were  obtaine(l  by  tlie  hilter,  !is  is  said,  ol'  one  (ias- 
par  (h'  Mspinosa,  in  wliose  name  he  acted,  ami  in  whose 
liehall'   he   stipulated   Ibr  one-third  oi'  all   returns  which 


should  result  Irom  u  snccessuu  completion  ol  the  iminense 
undertaking.  A  solemn  conti'act  was  entcre(l  into  bi'tuccii 
the  parties,  strengtheneil  by  all   the  cercniniii; 


IIS  ( n   oal lis 


ind  reli'doiis  services.     Neither  of  the  two  soldicis  coiilij 


\v 


rite,  and  their  signatures  were  executed  in  their  [ncsci 


HT. 


by  the  witnesses  to  the  instrument  of  coiitrai-t. 


Petb'arias  had  been  su(  ■•eedeil  bv  l>on  I 


c(iro  ( 


lelosi 


ildS 


and  the.  new  governor  a.- 


d  to  th 


e    second    cX|ici||tl(ill 


This  was  umlertaken  with  two  vessels,  carrying  about  one 
hinidred  and  sixty  men  and  a  Cew  horses.  The  services 
(jf  i'artholomew  IJiiiz,  a  skili'ul  [)ilot,  were  secured.  The 
adventurers  steered  dii-ect  for  the  mouth  of  the  San  .ln;iii, 
and,  landiii":  at  an    Indian  village  on  the  river,  obtaiiie<l 


;i 


some  plun<l<'r  in  gold,  and  seized  upon  the  persons  of 
lew  of  the  natives,  ^riie  country  appeared  U>i,  pupiiloiis 
to  oll'er  much  chance  of  success  to  such  a  small  i)and  of 
vaders.     vMmagro  was  therefore  sent  back  to  enlist  more 


in 


men  ut  home,  while  Ruiz,  with  the;  other  vessel,  explored 
the  coast  furtlier  to  the  south,  aial  I'i/.arro  I'cmained  near 
the  river,  with  a  portion 


tl 


K!  crow. 


lie  latter  em 


liireil 


nil 


ich  fn 


fui 


om  lumme,  e.x[)osure,  an( 


1  fat 


i.'nie,  • 


lur 


mtr 


the  ah 


scncc  of  \{n\'/u    Attem2)ting  to  jienetrate  into  the  intei'ior, 


A. 

iidiiV^  no  rurthor 
1(1  su|«|i')siii^  timt 
iiiipcUnl  to  rt'tuni, 
nls  r;iiKimii.     lit! 
,r;il.lc  n'i)»>rts  llian 
11,1  iiiistM-alili'  ••on-    I 
;iri)\v  iiliHosl  iiisur- 
oiiil  attfiiiiit. 
triii^ro,  luul  I'lit-licr 
r.     Tin-  ncct'ssiiry   ; 
s  saiil,  <'!'  •""'  '  ''''^' 

rh'il,  iili'l  ill  wlinSL' 
all  nturiis  wliidi 
ion  111'  the  iiiiiiii'ii^-*' 
utrnMl  into  lu'tsu'i'ii 
(',ivn\oiiials  of  oallis 
i.  two  soMit'i'-^  I'oiiM 
m1  ill  tlu'iv  iircsi'iu'c, 
•oiitrat't. 

I'l'droilc  los  Itlu.-i, 
~,coii(l  rxp('<liti(>n. 
arryiii'-  ;',l»'ut.  oih' 
scs.     Tlu'  sci'si*vs 
were  si'cnrt'il.     'I  If' 
1  ,,!■  the  Siin  •'"'"'• 
ill,,   river,  oLtaiiifl 
11  the  juTSons  ol  !^ 
arcd  too  iiopulous 
eh  a  small  IkuhI  nf 
t  back  to  enlist  more 
M-  vessel,  exploml 
arro  reiaainetl  near 
'ri,(>  latter  endured 
<ru(^  durin<^'  the  ah- 
itc  into  the  interier, 


r 


SOCTII  AMKUIOAN   IM)IiV\8. 


527 


ill  liopes  of  flndiii-,'  a  nioro  open  eountry,  they  were  com' 
{)l(!tt>ly  worn  down  and  dispirited. 

The  pilot,  in  the  niiMii  time,  had  made  his  way  tar  sonth- 
ward.  He  had  crossed  the  iMpiutor,  and  tonclied  at  several 
places,  where;  ihi'  dense  poj)idation  and  welhhiiilt,  dwell- 
iiiL's  <fave  prools  of  no  lillh>  advam-enient  in  eivili/atioti. 
He  hronn-ht  with  him  .scvd'al  Indian  prisoners,  taken  at 
sea,  npoii  oim  of  the  rude  boats,  or  rather  ral'ts,  called 
"balsas,"  in  whieli  they  W(M"(!  voyaJi•in,v^  Some  of  these 
were  from  the  port  ol' 'rmnbe/,,  and  tln'ii'  mar\clloiis  ac- 
counts of  tlie  quantities  of  ;^-old  and  siUer  n>ri{  l.y  ihejr 
monarch,  roused  anew  the  cupidiiy  of  the  Spaniards, 

Almaj^ro  soon  al'tcr  arriveil  with  numerous  liesli  re- 
cruits, and,  what  with  the  jj-jowin^-  reports  ol'  lluiz,  and 
this  addition  to  their  liirce,  tlir  weakeneil  ami  despairing 
rolluwcrs  of  l*i;^arro  reLiaiiieil  their  li)rmi'r  hopes  and  eoiir- 
a;.rc.  The  wholi>  eompany  a^^ain  S(!t  sail  for  the  land  of 
jironiisc.  At  Tacamcs,  near  the  month  of  the  Santiago, 
where  tin;  present  town  of  j'lsiuei'aldas  is  situated,  the 
llourishiiii^  appearance  of  the  eoimlry  inviteil  tlu'  \o\a:iers 
to  land;  but  they  were  o|i]iosed  by  tlioiisan(ls  of  armed 
iiati\('S,  who  attacked  them  with  jiicat  furv.  It  was  sup- 
posed that  all  the  Christians  must  hav(!  perishril  in  this 
onslaught,  bnt  for  a  strange  mistake  on  the  part  of  the 
liulians.  A  few  of  the  Spaniards  were  mounted  upon 
horses— a  sit^l  never  before  witnessed  in  l*eru  and  one 
(if  the  cavaliers  liap[ienim^'  to  fall  from  his  horse,  the  In- 
dians suppo.sed  that  asin,L!,le  enemy  had  become  two.  The 
horse  and  his  rider  were  taken  for  but  one;  animal,  and  the 
confusion  and  amazement  caused  by  the  sinht  of  such  a 


aniards  an  opjiortunil} 


prodigious  scjiaration,  gave  the  Sp 
to  retreat. 

It  was  plain  that  a  greater  force  was  necessary  to  make 
any  advantageous  progress  in  the  new  emi>ire,  and  again 
was  one  of  the  little  vessels  sent  back  to  Panama  for  riiin- 


■I' 


^♦' 


.m 

Mrl|p 


\y^-'^. 


v.: 


i^m-^ 


528 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMKUK'A. 


iuivcMiuMils,  \vliilr  I'izaiTo  iiiul  ;i  portion  ofliis  forces  took 
uj)  their  (|u;irt('rs  upon  the  Utile  islinid  ol' (iallo.  'I'hey 
sull'eix'd  evei'v  extreiiiity  helore  supplies  i'eaeh(,'(l  thmi 
J'roni  the  north,  and  when  two  vessels  loaded  with  stores 
made  tlieir  ajipeai'anei',  there  was  a  ^enei'ul  cry  for  return. 

.I'i/ari'o,  I'ortitied  in  his  determination  by  cncoura,^,in<i; 
letter.^  J'roui  his  allies,  harangui'd  liis  followi'rs,  and  !L!;ave 
them  their  iVee  elioitx!  whether  to  go  forward  in  search  of 
fame  and  wealtli,  or  to  retni'ii  in  poverty  an<l  disgrace  to 
I'anania.  Thirteen  only  had  llie  resolution  to  pi'oil'ei'  their 
further  services.  The  conunander  of  the  stoi\;-shi{)s,  who 
was  iustructcd  by  the  governor  to  bring  back  t'.ie  party, 
refu.sed  to  li'ave  either  of  his  vessels  lor  the  use  of  these 
lew  valorous  s[)irils,  and,  grudgingly  bestowing  upon  them 
a  portion  of  his  provisions,  set  sail,  leaving  thi-m,  as  was 
suj)po.sed,  to  certain  destruction. 

rpon  this  island,  and  U|)on  that  of  (iorgona,  twenty-five 
leagues  to  the  noilhward,  (whither  th(>y  migrated  on  a  rati, 
for  better  (piarters,)  the  little  ])arty  s])ent  seven  miseralile 
and  solitary  months.  Vty  great  ex(.'rtions,  Almagro  and 
JiU([ue  juocured  another  vessel,  and  the  governor's  \n:v- 
niission  to  relievo  their  associates;  but  this  was  not  oh- 
tained  without  a  positive  injunction  to  J'izarro  to  I'ctmii 
within  six  months.  No  recruits  were  takmi  on  board, 
beyond  the  necessiiry  crew  of  the  ves.sel.  Jiuiz  had  charge 
of  the  craft,  and  the  sight  of  its  ai)proacli  soon  gladdened 
the  desponding  licarts  of  the  destitute  and  lialf-famished 
expectants  at  (.!oi'gona. 

Without  lu'sitation  the  little  bund  stood  once  more  li)r 
the  south,  leaving  two  ttf  their  nund)er  ill  on  the  islaml, 
ill  cluirge  oi'  some  of  tlu;  JViendly  natives,  who  were  si  ill 
detained  in  their  company.  ^Ai'ter  twenty  days'  .-^ail,  in 
wdiich  they  passed,  without  landing,  the  spots  of  loi'mer 
exi)loratit)n,  the  vessel  entered  the  uulviiown  gidf  of 
Guayaquil. 


•A. 

o  I'll  is  forces  took    ji 
lol"(iallo.    'riiey     j 
ics  rcnclu-Hl    llifiii    ji 
loiuV'il  will  I  stores    ji 
i-ral  ery  lor  retuni.    | 
,11  l,y  ene,oura,<j;iiip;    j, 
V)ll()\vers,  !U>*1  i^uve    |! 
ji'ward  in  S(>iuvli  of    j 
rty  aiul  Jis-raee  to    i 
itionU)]>rolVer  tlieir 
the  store-ships,  who    j 
no-  Iniek  t'.ie  j-arty,    : 
lor  the  use  ol'  these    ; 
,i.«lo\vin}_'  niton  them    i 
L'iiving  tiieni,  as  was 

I  loro'ona,  twenty-five   , 
>y  mijinitedon  a  rail,    ^ 
icnt  seven  miserable 
rtions,  Alnia.irro  aiul    , 
the  ,^overnor's  per-    j 
,ut  this  was  nol,  oh-    i 
llo  I'i/.arro  to  retuni    i 
•re  taken   on  boanl,    , 
lol.     \l\ivA  ha(Iehar,i;o   ! 
1-oae.h  soon  gladdened 
tc  and  Indl-laniished 

stood  once  more  lor 
L'Y  ill  on  the  island, 
Ltives,  wlio  were  still 
] twenty  days'  sail,  in 

the  si)ots  of  former   i 
unknown   gulf  ol  \ 


SOUTH  AMKRICAN  INDIANS. 


529 


As  the  Spaniards  directed  their  course  towards  the  city 
of  Tumbez,  the  residence  (jf  the  Indian  cajitivcH,  tliey  en- 
countered nuiii y  natives,  in  the  balsas  which  served  thetn 
for  boats,  ^riiesc  strange  craft  were  made  of  logs  of  liglst 
wood,  secured  together,  and  littcd  with  musts  luid  sails. 
'fhc  crews  of  these  rafts,  in  the  midst  of  their  uma/cmeut 
at  the  {U'odigv  Ijefore  their  eyes,  recognized  the  Indians  on 
board,  and  learning  from  them  that  tlie  strangi^rs  were 
bound  rn(M-ely  uiion  exploration,  returned  to  satisfy  the 
curiosity  of  the  eager  crowd.s  gathered  upon  the  shore. 

A  j)eaceful  ccjnmunieatiou  was  soon  cstablisluid,  and  the 
sea-wearied  Spaniards  were  refreshed  by  bountiful  suitplies 
of  the  tropical  luxuries  furnished  by  the  kindly  natives. 
Llamas,  or  Peruvian  camels,  as  they  Avei'c  called,  were  now 
for  the  first  time  exhibited  and  offered  to  the  visitors.  A 
great  noble,  of  the  royal  race  of  the  Incus,  came  on  b(xtrd, 
and  was  courteously  entertained  by  Pizarro,  who  pijinted 
out  and  explained  the  mysteries  of  the  vessel  and  its 
accoutremciits. 

The  olhcers  of  the  SpanLsh  comptuny  were,  in  turn, 
feasted  ut  the  house  of  the  curucu,  or  governor  of  the 
l>rovince,  and  were  shown  tlic  royal  temple  and  f(jrtrcsscs. 
Some  of  the  apartments  were  adorned  with  such  a  rich 
profusion  of  massive  golden  ornaments  and  ]»lating,  that 
the  daz/led  Spuniards  now  trusted  in  the  speedy  realiza- 
tion of  their  long-deferred  hopes. 

From  Tumbez,  Pizarro  coasted  southward  as  far  as  the 
island  and  port  of  Santa,  some  distance  beyond  the  site  of 
the  present  Truxill; ,  stoj^ping  at  various  towns  and  settle- 
ments on  his  route.  'VUo  strangers  were  every  where  re- 
ceived with  hospitali'v,  kindncs.s,  and  tlie  most  lively 
curiosity,  and  enough  was  seen  fully  to  convince  them  of 
the  richness,  civilization,  and  prosperity  of  the  thickly 
populated  empire. 

Iteturning  to  Panama,  they  a^n  stopped  at  Tumbez  and 
34 


..'■■"  '■tit 

':■     IT 


t      ,  ''f 


!»;,■;• 


U^'\ 


530 


INDIAN   RACES  OF  AMEKICA. 


Other  important  port?,  aiid  tlicncc  brought  away  specimens 
of  the  productions  of  the  country ;  among  other  things,  a 
number  of  llamas.  At  their  own  request,  several  of  the 
Spaniards  were  left  at  Tumbcz,  to  enjoy  the  luxury  and 
ease  which  seemed  to  be  oll'ercd  by  a  life  among  the  kindly 
natives,  A  young  Peruvian,  named  ]<'elipillo,  with  one  or 
two  companions,  was  taken  on  board  tiie  vessel,  that  he 
might  be  instructed  in  the  Spani^'h  language,  and  that  his 
appearance  might  satisfy  the  incredidous,  at  home,  as  to 
the  character  of  the  inhabitants  of  Peru. 

The  troubles  of  the  enterjn-ising  trio  to  whom  these  dis- 
coveries were  owing  were  not  yet  at  an  end.  The  derision 
and  contumely  which  had  tended  so  long  to  damp  their 
spirits,  was,  indeed,  changed  to  congratulations  and  eager 
astonishment  at  the  return  and  reports  of  Pizarj-i);  but  the 
governor  frowned  upon  the  prosecution  of  the  enttMju'isc. 
"lie  did  not  wish,"  says  Ilerrera,  "to  deixtpulate  his  own 
district  in  order  to  people  new  countries"— the  gold,  silver, 
and  sheep  which  had  been  exiiibited,  seemed  to  him  but 
a  paltry  return  for  the  expenditure  of  such  an  uniomit  of 
lives  and  money,  and  the  endurance  of  such  hardships  and 
suffering  as  were  the  fruits  of  the  first  expeditions. 

Ijcfore  continuing  the  account  of  the  steps  by  which  tlio 
great  work  of  concpiest  was  finally  achieved,  it  will  be  well 
to  take  a  brief  view  of  the  condition  of  the  devoted  country 
at  the  period  of  its  discovery. 

The  two  great  monarchies  of  Mexico  and  Peru,  both  of 
tliem  in  a  state  of  scmi-civiHzaticn  at  the  j)eriod  of  Span- 
i.sh  discoveries  and  conquests,  are  closely  associated  in  our 
minds.  The  thoughts  of  one  naturally  suggests  that  of  the 
other.  We  vshall,  however,  find,  upon  an  examination  of 
history,  that  these  nations  were  widely  dissimilar:  neither, 
in  all  human  probability,  had  any  knowledge  of  the  other's 
existence,  and  no  intercourse  CQidd  have  been  nuiintainod 
between  them  from  a  period  of  the  most  remote  antiquity. 


r=r^=:n 


iA. 


it  away  specimens 
ig  other  things,  a 

est,  several  of  the  j ', 

)y  tlic  hixury  and  •} 

among  the  kindly  .\ 

lipillo,  with  one  or  || 

the  vessel,  that  he  : ; 

■ua""C,  and  that  his  ' 

)ns,  at  lunne,  as  to  ,| 

,   li 

to  whom  these  dis-  | 
end.  The  derision 
long  to  dump  their 
tulations  and  eager 
ofTizarro;  but  tlio 
)u  of  the  entLTpvisc. 
depopulate  his  <nvii 
s"— the  gold,  silver, 

seemed  to  him  but 
'  sueh  an  uuiouutof 

sueh  hardships  and 

expeditions, 
c  steps  by  which  tlio 
ii(>ved,  it  wdl  be  well 
10  dev(jted  connti  y 

;o  and  Peru,  both  of 
the  period  of  Span- 
dy  associated  in  our 

s\i<i'gests  that  of  the 
n  an  examination  ol 

dissimilar:  neither, 
.wledge  of  the  other's 
live  been  nuuntainod 
ost  remote  antiquity. 


SOUTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


581 


Witlvvnit  going  into  a  direct  comparison  between  these 
countries,  their  respective  goverrnnents,  religion,  and  na- 
tional customs,  we  shall  enter  sufliciently  into  particulars 
in  treating  the  present  subject,  to  give  the  reader  such  a 
general  idea  of  its  details  that  he  can  himself  perceive  the 
contrasts  and  dissimilarities  above  mentioned. 


CHAPTEl   II. 

MYTHOLOGICAL    TUADITIONS TOPA    INCA    YUFA.NQUI,  AND    HIS    SON 

HUAVNA  CAPAC TIIK  I'KRL'VIAN  CAPITAL KKLIGIOUS  SYSTEM— 

GOVERNMENT AGKAIUAN     LAW LLAMAS PUBLIC   RECORDS  : 

THE  "QUIPII  " AGRICULTURE MARRIAGES WARLIKE  POL- 

ICY   OF    THE    INCA.S THE    GREAT    ROADS CONTENTMENT 

OF  THE  NATIVES DIVISION  OF  THE  EMPIRE  :    HUASCAR 

AND  ATAHUALLPA CONTEST  FOR    SUPREMACY. 

According  to  Peruvian  mythology,  the  whole  country 
was,  in  early  times,  as  savage  and  barbarous  as  the  neigh- 
boring nations  of  the  F-ast.  Manco  Capac,  and  his  sister 
and  wife.  Mama  Oello  IFuaco,  two  children  of  the  Sun, 
settling  in  the  valley  of  Cuj^co,  began  the  work  of  regen- 
eration. They  tanght  the  arts  of  civilizetl  lite,  and  from 
them  sprang  the  hmg  line  of  the  Tncas  whose  glorious 
kingdom  was  at  the  height  of  its  prosperity  when  discov- 
ered by  the  Spaniards.  Other  traditions,  more  worthy  of 
study  and  reflection,  speak  of  ^^  bearded  ivhite  7)ien,^^  to  whose 
immigration  the  commencement  of  improvement  was  due. 

We  gather  little  of  connected  or  reliable  tradition  earlier 
than  the  reign  of  I'opa  Tnca  Yupanqui.  Tliis  monarch's 
victories  widely  extended  the  domains  bequeathed  him  by 
his  ancestors.  By  his  warlike  achievements,  and  those  of 
his  son,  lluayna  Capac,  the  Peruvian  empire  was  extended 
from  the  southern  portion  of  Chili  to  the  boundaries  of  the 


„  n 


'■■  'i  -1 


532 


INDIAN  KACES  Oi  AMEUICA. 


present  republic  of  New  Grenada.  The  centre  of  govern- 
ment, and  site  of  tlie  njyal  i)ala(;e,  the  great  temple  of  the 
siin,  and  the  most  celebrated  fortification,  were  at  Cuzeo,  in 
the  interior.  The  town  was  situated  in  a  valley  of  the 
ta^  '.e-land,  at  an  immense  height  above  the  level  of  the 
sea,  an  altituilc  which  secured  tt)  it  a  delightful  climate  in 
thosc!  iroiiical  regions. 

The  princi])al  buildings  of  the  ca})ital  were  of  hewn 
stone,  wrought  entirely  by  instruments  of  coj^per,  hard- 
ened by  an  alloy  of  tin;  for,  like  the  Mexicans,  the  peo[)le 
of  Peru  were  entirely  ignorant  of  the  use  of  iron.  A  cer- 
tain perfection  of  workmanshij),  seldom  attem])tcd  in  more 
advanced  nations,  and  only  cltcwhiM'e  observable^  in  the 
casings  of  the  great  Kgvj)tian  pyramids,  is  desei'ibcd  as 
peculiar  to  the  laying  of  the  ci)urscs  of  slone  in  these  an- 
cient buildings.  For  the  nmst  part  no  cement  was  nsed, 
but  the  blocks  were  so  accurately  fitted  that  "it  was  im- 
possible to  introduce  even  the  blade  of  a  knife  between 
them."  Mr.  Prescott,  giving,  as  his  authority,  the  meas- 
urements and  descrij)tions  of  Acosta  and  Garcilasso,  says: 
"Majiy  of  these  stones  were  of  vast  size;  some  of  them 
being  full  thirty -eight  feet  long,  by  eighteen  broad,  ami 
six  feet  thick.  *  *  These  enormous  masses  were  hewn 
from  their  native  bed,  and  fashioned  into  shape  by  a,  poo- 
])le  ignorant  of  the  use  of  iron;  they  were  brought  from 
qnarries,  from  lour  to  fifteen  leagues  di.stant,  without  the 
aid  of  beasts  of  burden;  were  trans})orted  across  rivers 
and  ravines,  raised  to  their  elevated  position  on  the  sierra, 
and  finally  adjusted  there  with  the  nicest  accuracy,  with- 
out the  knowledge  of  tools  and  macliinery  familiar  to  the 
Euroj)ean." 

At  Cuzco  stood  the  great  temple  of  the  sun,  by  far  the 
most  resplendent  with  gold  and  ornament  of  all  the  piih- 
lie  edifices  of  Peru.  The  description  of  this  central  point 
of  the  religious  system  of  the  country  vies  with  those  of 


i7--~ 


centre  of  govern- 

rent  temple  of  the 
^  vvere  iit  Cuzeo,  in 
M  a  valley  of  tlic 
c  the  level  of  the 
iligUtful  climate  in 

Ltiil  were  of  licwn 
s  of  copper,  biinl- 
oxiean^,  the  people 
;se  of  iron.     A  iht- 
i  attemi)te(l  in  moiv 
■  ol't^ervahle  in  tlu; 
itls,  is  (lescrihed  as 
f  stone  in  these  an- 
10  cement  was  nsod, 
cd  that  "  it  w:is  iiu- 
of  a  hnifi'  hctwecu 
luthoritv,  the  meas- 
,iul  (larcilasso,  says; 
si/.e;  some  of  thcia 
io-hteen  broad,  auil 
niasses  were  hewti 
|into  shape  by  a  poo- 
were  l)ron,u;ht  from 
distant,  without  the 
[ported  across  rivers 
jsition  on  the  sierra, 
lii;est  aceuracy,  with- 
incry  familiar  to  the 


If  the  sun,  by  far  the 

Iment  of  all  the  puh- 

of  this  central  point 

[y  vies  with  those  of 


SOUTH  AMEUICAN   INDIANS. 


533 


fairy  palaces  in  Arabian  tales.  It  was  built  of  stone,  but, 
by  a  strange  contrast  of  magnificence  with  rudeness,  was 
thatelied  with  straw.  The  most  striking  object  in  the  in- 
terior was  a  huge  golden  sun,  represented  by  the  figure  of 
a  human  face,  surrounded  with  rays.  This  was  so  placcil 
as  to  receive  the  first  beams  of  the  rising  sun.  The  whole 
building  sjiarkled  with  golden  ornament;  even  upon  the 
outside  a  heavy  belt  of  gohl  is  said  to  have  been  let  into 
the  .stone  wall  around  the  whole  extent  of  the  edifice. 
Great  vases  of  the  precious  metals  stood  in  the  open  space 
of  the  intei'ior,  filled  with  olferings  of  maize,  and  no  less 
\ahiablc  material  was  used  for  the  various  tools  and  im- 
plements connected  with  the  establishment. 

'^riiis  {irofusiuu  of  gold  and  silver,  which,  although  in 
inferior  degree,  was  noticeable  in  the  royal  palaces  and 
temples  throughout  the  empire,  resulted  from  the  circum- 
stance tiiat  the  mines  were  a  government  monopoly.  No 
mon(>y  was  used,  and  consequently  the  whole  product  of 
the  country,  in  this  line,  was  collected  in  the  cortbrs  of  the 
Inca,  or  displayed  in  the  gorgeous  ornaments  which 
adorned  the  tem{)les.  The  miiu\s  were  worked  by  bodies 
(iT  hihorers  systematically  draftcnl  from  the  common  })eo- 
})le,  to  serve  for  specified  periods. 

The  I'eruvians  had  some  idea  of  an  invisible  deity, 
whose  sufiremacy  they  acknowledged,  and  to  whom  hom,- 
age  was  rendered,  but  the  sun  was  their  chief  object  of 
worship,  ^riie  moon  and  stars  took  the  place  of  subordi- 
nate divinities.  Bv  virtue  of  his  ofirce,  the  Inca  was  the 
head  of  the  visible  church,  and  high-priest  of  the  sun; 
all  the  other  religious  functionaries  were  of  the  nobilitv, 
vi/:  descendants  in  the  male  lino  of  the  royal  fam.iy. 
One  lawful  wife  gave  birth  to  the  successor  to  the  throne, 
hut  from  the  inniimerablo  concubines  kept  by  the  empe- 
ror sprang  the  race  of  Inca  nobility,  distinguished  by  dress 
and  occupation  from  the  body  of  the  people. 


'I  .f 


m 


:i 


■i'.  M 


^      f 


■m  '  f 


534 


IfUIAN   RACKS  OF  AMEUICA. 


A  most  singular  resemblance  to  the  aiu-icnt  onler  of  tlio 
vestal  virtxins  existed  in  that  of  tlie  Peruvian  N'irgins  of 
the  Sun.  These  were  set  a})art,  at  an  early  age,  for  tlie 
services  of  the  temple,  the  preparations  of  its  ta})cstrv  and 
ornaments,  and  especially  for  the  preservation  of  the  sa- 
cred fire.  Terrible  penalties  followed  the  vioh^tion  of 
chastity  by  either  of  these  devotees,  always  excepting  the 
privileges  of  the  Inca,  to  whom  they  were  subsci'vient  as 
"brides,"  or  concubincrf,  The  ofVice  did  not  necessarily 
continue  during  life:  many  of  these  "Virgins"  were  dis- 
missed to  Jieir  paternal  homes  from  time  to  time,  and 
were  ever  thereafter  lield  in  great  liouDr  and  veneration. 
The  religious  ceremonies  and  festivals  familiar  to  the  na- 
tion were  singularly  numerous  and  complicated-  an  enu- 
meration of  them  would  be,  for  the  most  part,  wearisome 
and  devoid  of  interest. 

The  Peruvian  system  of  government  merits  a  more 
particular  attention.  Here,  for  the  fi^st  time  in  the  history 
of  the  world,  we  see  the  results  of  a  paternal  despotism 
carr  1  to  its  most  extravagant  extent,  yet  meeting  the 
apparent  wants  of  the  people,  and  universally  acrpiicsced 
in  and  approved  by  them.  From  generation  to  generation 
the  whole  mass  of  the  commonalty  was  shut  out  from 
any  possibilit}"  of  change  or  improvement,  and  subjected  to 
immutable  rules  in  every  employment  or  })rivilegc  of  life. 

The  whole  empire  was  minutely  divided  and  subdivi- 
ded into  districts,  according  to  population,  and  over  each 
of  these  departments  a  curaca  or  governor  was  set  to  main- 
tain law.  The  penal  code  was  sufiiciently  severe,  and 
rigidly  enforced ;  in  idl  matters  of  private  right  there  was 
no  room  for  contention  among  the  citizens,  as  the  state 
prescribed  every  man's  place  of  residence,  the  amount  and 
nature  of  his  employment,  and  the  provision  necessary  for 
his  support. 

The  government  assumed  the  entire  ownership  of  ths 


CA. 

ciont  order  of  tho 
■uviivu  \lrn;iiis  of    | 
curly  a<,'c,  for  tlio 
of  its  tapestry  and 
rvation  of  tlic  sa- 
tlie  vioU.tiou  of 
k-ays  exeepting  tlio 
crc  su\)sei'vieut  us 
lid  not  neeessarily 
Virgins"  were  dis- 
tinic  to  time,  and 
lor  and  veneration. 
fan\iliar  to  the  na- 
mplicatcd-  an  enu- 
ost  part,  wearisome 


cut  merits  a  more 
:  time  in  the  history 
paternal  despotism 
it,  yet  meeting  the 
versally  acqnicsced 
ration  to  generation 
was  shut  out   from 
3nt,  and  subjected  to 
or  privilege  of  life, 
vided  and  suhdivi- 
ition,  and  over  caeli 
lorwas  set  to  main- 
ciently  severe,   and 
vatc  right  there  was 
jitizens,  as  the  state 
■ncc,  the  amount  and 
ovision  iiecessary  for 

re  ownership  of  ths 


SOUTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


5^5 


soil,  wliich  was  divided  into  three  parts  for  the  following 
uses:  The  lirst  was  set  ajiart  to  support  tho  wholo  exten- 
sive system  of  religion;  the  second  sustained  the  royal 
court,  and  furnished  the  "civil  list"  for  tho  accomplish- 
ment of  all  public  works,  and  to  defray  tho  current  ex- 
penses of  the  eni])ire;  and  the  third  was  yearly  divided 
among  the  people.  The  ajiportionment  was  made  to  each 
family,  according  to  its  nund^ers,  and,  unless  some  good 
cause  should  a)-)p(\ar  to  the  contrary,  it  is  supposed  tluit  tlic 
same  spot  v.'as  continued  in  the  possession  of  its  proprie- 
tor from  year  to  year.  The  public  domains  were  culti- 
vated by  the  peojdc  in  mass,  and,  in  the  managenuMit  of 
the  private  allotments,  vigilant  care  was  taken,  by  the 
appropriate  ollicei's,  that  no  one  should  be  idle,  no  one 
over-burdened  with  labor,  and  no  one  in  a  state  of  suffer- 
ing frinn  want. 

The  oidy  beast  of  burden  in  Peru  was  the  llama.  The 
immense  herds  of  this  animal  were,  without  exception, 
the  ]iroperty  of  the  state,  and  under  the  management  of 
government  officials.  The  wool  and  hair  of  tlu;  llama  fur- 
nished the  most  important  material  for  the  clothing  of  tlie 
whole  population,  l)ut  before  it  reached  its  ultimate  desti- 
nation it  must  pass  throu<rh  the  hands  of  ajijiointed  agents, 
and,  after  the  separation  and  preparation  of  the  poi'ticju 
devoted  to  religious  and  royal  purposes,  l)e  erpiitably  par- 
celled out  and  distributed  among  the  private  families.  The 
manufacture  of  cloth  wa^  more  especially  the  business  of 
womeji  and  children.  No  man  had  the  power  to  choose 
his  own  employment.  A  select  number  of  artisans  were 
set  apart  and  instructed  in  such  mechanical  sciences  as 
were  known  to  the  age  and  country,  while  the  mass  of  the 
population  were  employed  in  agricultural  labors,  or,  by  a 
systematic  a])portionment  among  the  di  n.ercnt  districts,  were 
engaged  upon  the  vast  works  of  public  utility  or  magnifi- 
cence which  astonished  the  eyes  of  the  Spanish  invaders. 


■  >   ,  ■ 


536 


INJ)IAN   KACKS  OF  AMKItlCA. 


The  most  exact  accounts  wore  k'0[>t,  by  certain  ajiiiointcd 
ofRccrs,  of  the  entire  populatinu  and  resources  of  the  cm- 
j)ire.  No  birth,  marriage,  or  death,  was  sulfercd  to  pass 
unchronieled,  and  an  immense  amount  of  statistical  matter, 
relative  to  the  condition  of  the  ))eoj)K,  the  prodnclions  of 
the  soil,  the  extent  of  manufactures,  &e.,  was  I'cgularly  and 
.systematically  returnei'l  to  the  proper  department.  The 
substitute  for  writing,  by  which  these  results,  ami  even 
much  more  abstract  particulars  (as  of  dates  and  historical 
events),  were  ]KM'i)etuated,  was  exceedingly  ingenious  and 
unique.  It  consisted  of  the  ''tiui])n,"  viz:  a  cord  ol'strands 
varving  in  color,  from  which  depended  nunu'i'(jus  short 
threads  at  regular  distances.  A  sei'ies  of  knots  in  tiiese 
appendages  (which  were,  like  the  strands  of  the  main  coi'd, 
of  various  colors)  served  to  ex})rcss  any  amount  in  num- 
bers, and  the  difl'erenco  in  hue  desigiiate(l  tlie  subject  to 
which  they  were  applied.  The  endless  condiinations  v.'liich 
could  be  elTected  in  this  system  of  knots  might,  as  we  can 
readily  perceive,  be  extended  to  the  expressi(jn  of  a  verv 
widc  range  of  ideas.  In  the  words  of  Mr.  Prescott:  "TIk^ 
peculiar  knot,  or  color,  in  this  way  (by  association)  sug- 
gested what  it  could  not  venture  to  re[)resent;  in  the  same 
manner — to  borrow  the  homely  illustration  of  an  old 
writer— as  the  niunljer  of  the  Commandment  calls  to  mind 
tlie  Commandment  itself.  *  *  *  The  narrative  thus 
concocted  could  be  communicated  oidy  by  oral  tradition; 
but  the  quipus  served  the  chronicler  to  arrange  the  inci- 
dents with  method,  and  to  refi-(;sh  his  memory." 

In  some  of  the  sciences,  particularly  in  astronomy,  the 
Peruvians  were  far  beliii  1  the  Aztecs.  A  few  simple  ob- 
servations of  the  moven..  iof  the  planets;  and  the  meas- 
urement of  shadows  to  n.„.k  the  scjlstices,  equinoxes,  &c., 
formed  the  limit  of  their  s])eculations  or  experiments.  In 
the  more  jiractical  and  necessary  arts  of  husbamlry  and 
agriculture,  not  even  the  laborious  and  patient  p(jpu];ition 


certiiin  a])p*~''>"tod 
ources  of  the  cm-    ; 
;  sulVercd  to  jiass    ' 
statisticul  iiuitter, 
he  pvoilnctioiis  of 
was  ro-i;ularly  and 
ilci^avtinoiit.     'V\u\ 
results,  and  even 
atos  and  liistork'ul 
inlv  inpMiious  and 
;:  a  cord  of  strands 
.,1  iiunu'V(jns  short 
!  of  knots  in  tlii-so 
Is  of  tlie  main  cord, 
ly  an\ount  in  nuni- 
\led  the  snl))i'et  to 
foiiihinations  wliirli 
ts  mi.iiht,  as  we  can 
sipvession  of  a  very 
Mr.  Preseott 


U'Pl 


u^ 


ly  assoeiation)  sn.ii;- 
nvsent;  in  the  same 
;tration  of  an  old 
hnient  calls  to  mind 
hdie  narrative  thus 
ly  Ijy  oral  tradition; 

to  arrange  the  inci- 
Imcmory." 
ly  in  astronomy,  the 
A  few  simple  oh- 

[nets;  and  the  meas- 

jices,  ccpunoxcs,  &c., 

ir  experiments,     lu 

of  husbandry  and 

[l  patient  population 


SOUTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


Out 


of  China  could  excel  the  suhjeets  of  the  Tneas.  The  ex- 
tent of  the  aeipieduets,  to  eonduet  the  mountain-streams 
through  the  arid  fields  where  rain  never  fell;  the  immense 
excavations  made  to  reaeli  a  moist  soil,  lifteen  or  twenty 
feet  helow  the  surface;  and  other  miu'hty  undertakings 
which  individual  entcMprise  could  never  have  accom|>lisli- 
cd,  evince  the  elfeets  that  a  complete  centralization  of 
powci*  can  produce.  Were  it  not  for  the  ruins,  of  wdneli 
luodern  travellers  give  us  measurement  and  description,  we 
should  he  tempted  to  throw  aside  the  early  histories  of 
Peruvian  achievements  as  gross  exaggerations.  The  use 
of  guano  for  manure  was  coumion,  and  the  gathering 
and  apitlieatiou  of  it  were  in  accordance  with  rigid  and 
careful  regulations.  '^I'lie  destruction,  or  even  the  disturb- 
ance of  the  birds  to  whom  the  formation  is  owing,  was 
punished  by  death.  A  plough  was  used  in  the  cultivation 
of  the  land,  but  it  was  rudely  and  simply  constructed  of 
wood,  and  was  forced  through  the  earth  by  human  thews 
and  sinews.  The  unequalled  diversity  in  soil  and  climate 
provided  suitable  localities  for  a  variety  in  vegetable  pro- 
ductions seldom  seen  within  the  same  limits.  Bananas, 
Indian  corn,  potatoes,  a  grain  calUnl  quinoa,  and  many 
other  well-known  crojis,  were  successfully  cultivated.  The 
desire  for  stimulants  and  narcotics,  so  universal  to  man- 
kind, was  satisfied  by  a  liquor  brewed  from  maize,  by  to- 
bacco, and  b}'  the  coca  or  cuca,  whose  leaves  possess  some- 
thing of  the  sedative  qualiti(\s  of  the  latter  plant. 

Wo  have  mentioned  the  control  exercised  by  the  gov- 
ernment over  the  private  ailairs  of  every  citizen;  this 
extended  even  to  the  ties  of  aflTunty.  Every  person  was 
required  to  marry  at  an  appointed  age,  (eighteen  in  females, 
and  twenty-four  in  males,)  and,  although  a  certain  degree 
of  choice  was  left  to  the  individual  in  the  selection  of  a 
partner,  it  must  be  conlincd  within  a  specified  district  or 
community.     The  Inca  always  married  his  sister,  that  the 


,*  ;"  -, 


:'M 


5^8 


IXDIAX  HACKS  OK  AMKJilCA. 


purity  of  tlie  ro^'al  blood  iniglit  not  be  contaminated,  but 
such  a  conii'-ctioinvas  IbrlMddcn  between  any  of  lower  nuik. 

Althougii  the  mass  of  the  people  were  constantly  em- 
ployed in  the  operations  of  peaceful  husbundry,  the  poliry 
of  the  Inea  ilynasty  towards  neigliborin;^,'  nations  was 
essentially  warlike.  'J'he  youth  of  the  nobility,  and  espe- 
cially the  i)resumi)tive  heir  to  the  throne,  were  insti'ucted 
iu  the  arts  of  war,  and  sul)jected  to  a  routine  of  bodily 
exercise  and  trials  of  fortitude  not  unlike  that  jJiMftiscd  by 
the  ruder  nations  of  North  America,  iu  the  iniliation  of 
their  future  warriors. 

An  extensive  nalitia  sy.stcm  was  enforced,  and,  in  tiiue 
of  war,  troops  were  dralled  from  the  dilVermt  distriet.s  iu 
some  proi)ortion  to  the  population ;  ivj^ard  being'  had  to 
the  hardihood  and  energy  of  the  various  races,  in  making 
the  levy.  Axes,  lances,  darts,  bows  and  arrows,  and  slings, 
formed  the  prineipal  wea])ons  of  olfenee.  The  soldiers 
Avere  alto  supplied  with  the  ipulted  coats  of  snrli  eoninmn 
use  iu  past  ages,  to  ward  oif  arnjws  and  sword-thrusts,  aiid 
Avith  helmets  of  skins  or  wood. 

The  great  roads,  led  along  the  mountain  ridges,  or  by 
the  level  plain  of  the  sea-coast,  furnisluid  ready  means  of 
transit  to  the  royal  armies  throughout  the  extent  of  ihu 
empire.  Enough  of  these  yet  remains  to  excite  the  ad- 
miration of  every  traveller.  Of  the  ])rinci))al  of  these 
roads,  Mr.  I'j'eseott  speaks  as  follows:  "It  was  conducted 
over  pathless  sicn-as  buried  in  snow;  galleries  were  cut 
for  leagues  through  the  living  rock;  rivers  were  crossed 
by  means  of  bridges  that  hung  suspended  in  tho  ;ur;  pi'c- 
cipices  were  sealed  by  stairways  hewn  out  of  the  native 
bed;  ravines  of  hideous  depth  were  Idled  up  with  soli<l  ; 
masonry;  in  short,  all  the  dilliculties  that  beset  a  wiKl  and  i 
mountainous  region,  and  which  might  appall  the  most 
courageous  engineer  of  modern  times,  were  encountered 
and  successfullv  overcome.     The  length  of  the  road,  of 


'■    i 


■}  \ 


[CA. 

contaminated,  but 
uuny  ol  lower  rank. 
k'ero  constantly  cm-   , 
isbaiidry,  the  policy    | 
jorin;^   nations  was  j 

I  nobility,  ami  I'spc- 
)ne,  were  instructt'd 

II  rtnitine  ol"  bodily 
.kc  that  practiced  by 

in  the  initiation  of 

forced,  and,  in  tinu' 
dill'crcnt  district.s  in 
C'jard  bcinu'  had  In 
)us  races,  in  making 
id  arrows,  and  ;dings, 
fence.  The  soldiers 
pals  ofsneli  comnieii 
Id  sword-thrusts,  and 


Huilain  ridges,  or  by 
u'd  ready  means  of 
ut  the  extent  of  the 
s  to  excite  the  ad- 
])rincii)al  of  these 
"It  was  couduetcd 
,  j^^allcries  were  cut 
rivers  were  crossed 
ided  in  tho  air;  i)rc- 
11  out  of  the  native 
filled  up  with  solid 
that  beset  a  wild  and 
fht  ai)pall  the  most 
:s,  were  encountered 
<fth  of  the  road,  of 


SOUTU  AMKKICAN  IM)I.\NS. 


C89 


which  scattered  fragments  only  renuun,  is  variously  esti- 
mated from  fifteen  hundred  to  two  thousand  miles."     No 
cclebi'ated  conipieror  of  the  old  world  ever  pursued  such 
])crfect  system  and  method  in  the  conduct  of  a  campaign 
as  did  the  lnca.s.     Statioiis  for  couriers  were  built  at  regu- 
lar intervals  throughout  the  main  routc.<,  by  means  of  which 
messages   or   light  burdens  could  be  conveyed  with  in- 
credible celerity  to  any  re(pured  distance.     Granaries  and 
store-houses  filled  witli  supplies  for  tho  army  stood,  under 
care  of  ap[H)inted  odiciM's,  at  convenient  intervals,  and  all 
these  provisions  and  suindies  being  furiushed  from  tho 
stiite  funds,  no  nuin  felt  them  as  an  extraordinary  bui'den. 
A  strange  but  sagacious  policy  w\as  okserved  towards  a 
conquered  nation.     The  Peruvian  worship  of  the  sun  was 
immediately  introduced;  all  the  laws  of  the  em})ire  wore 
ciilbrced,  and  its  customs  established;  but,  that  the  yoke 
might  not  be  too  galling,  tlu;   privileges  as  well  as  the 
duties  of  a  subject  were  extended  to  the  concpiered  peo})le. 
The  former  nobles  and  governors  were  not  uueoninionly 
continued  in  ollice,  and  a  paternal  care  was  taken  ol'  the 
necessities  and  interests  of  the  wdiole  po))ulace.     With  all 
this,  no  stejis  were  omitted  wduch  would  tend  to  comj)lctely 
denationalize  the  newly-acrpaired  country.     Large  colonies 
of  Peruvians  were  transplanted  from  their  own  country  to 
the  new,  and  their  jdaces  supplied  by  an  equal  number  of 
those  whose  habitations  they  occupied,     '^i'lie  language  of 
the  concpierors  was  every  wdiere  introduced,  and  its  use 
encouraged  until,  with  the  lapse  of  year,*,  a  complete  as- 
similation  was  brought  about. 

All  this  complete  course  of  despotism  was  said  by  the 
Spanish  historians,  who  wrote  from  observation,  and  be- 
fore the  old  order  of  things  was  entirely  overturned,  to  be 
precisely  that  which  was  best  adapted  to  the  Peruvian 
race,  and  to  the  country  and  climate  wduch  they  iidiabited. 
The  people  were  contented  with  their  lot,  and  looked  upon 


L^n 


olO 


INDIAN    i:.\fi;s  Ol'  AMKltlCA. 


their  [H'icsfs  mikI  nilci's  with  ihc  utmost  ri'VtM'Clic'O.  "No 
iiiiin  I'oiiUl  bo  rich,"  says  I'lvsiott,  "iio  iriaii  coiiUl  lio  juior, 
ill  i'crii;  but  nil  iiii.LrhtiMijoy,  aiwl  iliil  c'lijoyi  '^  coiiiix'tciicc, 
Aiiibiiioii,  iivarico,  the  K)V('  oC  i'lian,tjjt>,  th(.^  morbid  si>irit 
of  (liscoiitcut,  thos(>  j)assioiis  wliicli  most  anituti' tlio  iiiiiids 
nCiiuMi,  11)1111(1  no  |)laci'  ill  the  bosotnof  the  I'cruviaii.  *  * 
\\r.  iiioNrd  oil  ill  the  satiu^  imbroi<cii  circlo  ill  wiiich  liis 
latlicrs  had  movt'd  bcrorc  liiiii,  and  in  which  liia  childiru 
wero  to  (1)1  low." 

We  oaiiiiot  Ik'I))  a  ioeliiifj:  of  natural  regret  that  the 
ruthless  invasion  of  the  Spaniards  should  liavc  U|)rootiil 
all  these  ancient  and  venerated  enstoins.  There  was  imt, 
as  with  the  A/lees,  a  bloody  system  of  relij,non,  whose 
fiiinihilaLit)!!  could  reconcile  us  to  almost  any  violence  (ni 
the  part  oC  those  who  eame  to  overturn  it.  There  were, 
indi'cd,  oeeasioiial  .scenes  of  human  sacriliee  at  the  ureal 
n'li;^dous  solemnities;  but  these  were  the  e\c(>ptioii,  \u>\ 
the  rule.  'I'he  people*  at  lar<j;e  lived  on  in  peace  iiinl 
rpiictne.ss,  eontented  with  the  f^overnmeiit  and  in.stitiitions 
under  whose  influence  they  lived,  and  by  whose  care  they 
were  secured  in  the  jiossession  of  the  eoiiipeteneies  of  lile. 

We  have  ah'cadv  mentioned  the  sueeesses  and  con<]Uests 
of  Tupac  Viipaiupii,  and  his  son  llnayna  C'apac.  'i'lic 
latter  prince,  havin/L^  reduced  the  kingdom  of  C^uito,  tlio 
modern  I'lrpiador,  took  uj)  his  residence  at  its  ea])ital,  and 
devotcfl  his  attention  to  beautilying  his  acquisition,  ami 
establishing  the  Peruvian  polic-y  upon  a  iirm  basis  through- 
out its  limits. 

The  finst  expeditions  of  the  Spaniards  to  the  Peruvian 
coast,  took  place  during  the  latter  years  of  this  nioiiarcli, 
and  the  accounts  are  said  to  have  filled  his  jiiind  with 
gloomy  forebodings  of  the  overthrow  of  his  em|)ire.     .'lis 


sagacious  perce])tiou  readily  rceogniy.ed  the  va.st  superi- 
onty  over  his  own  nation,  evident  in  the  ve.ssehs,  arms, 
intelligence,   and   cnterpri.se  of  the  strangers.     Iluayna 


V  't%. 


OA.  ll 

I  n'Vt'rc'iK't'.     "  No 
iium  coiiltl  Ik-  imor, 

ijoy,  !l  COllllH'tlMK'C. 

,  t\\v  morbid  spirit    1 
stajiiliitr  the  miiuls 
■the  I'oruviuii.  *  * 
circlo.  in  wiru'li  liis    ' 
which  his  chiMu'n 

iral  regret  thut  the 
.mill  have  uprooted 
lis.  There  \v;is  not, 
1  of  relij^non,  wlios.- 

OSt  Mliy   viollMlce    nil 

ini  it.     There  were, 
:icritiee  at  the  .uMvut 
;  the  exception,  imt 
ed  on  in  peaet"  anil 
lent  ami  iiistitntinns 
)y  who.-^e  carr  thi'V 
inpeteneies  of  lil'r. 
>ses  ami  eonipu'sts 
lyna  t'apae.     'I'lir 
(loin  of  Quito,  tlio 
e  at  its  capital,  ami 
lis  aequisition,  aiid 
lirni  basis  through- 


CO 


i'( 


I 


rds  to  the  Peruvian 

rs  of  tliis  uioiiarcli, 
led  his  mind  willi 
of  liis  empire.  His 
/.ed  the  vast  sutvri- 
n  the  vessels,  arms, 
strangers,     lluaymi 


SOUTH  AMKlllCAN   INDIANS. 


r>n 


(Japac  died  about  the  year  1525,  leaving  his  oidy  legitiinatt; 
son,  IIua.sciir,  the  regular  8ueee.s.sor  to  his  throne.  Instead 
of  continuing  the  old  order  of  tlescent,  the  king's  loudness 
Ibr  another  son,  iuiukmI  Atahuallpa,  (.\tiil»alipa,  ass[)elt  by 
many  oiil  writers)  led  him,  upon  his  death-bed,  to  bestow 
upon  this  I'avorite  a  portion  of  his  kingdom.  I'pon  the  sub- 
version of  the  ancient  dynasty  at  Quito,  lluayna  Capac  had 
taken  the  daughter  of  the  last  native  prince  as  one  of  his 
foneubine.s.  |*'roni  this  union  s])rung  the  priiu!0  of  whom 
we  ar((  speaking.  The  share  of  empire  be(ineatlu.'d  to 
Atahiiall[)a  was  tiiat  of  his  maternal  aneestor.s,  in  whii.'li 
liis  iiither  had  .so  huig  resided,  and  to  whose  impri>vemeiit 
he  hail  devoted  his  declining  \ear.s.  The  rest  of  ihr  wide 
ikjinains  of  Peru  were  lell  in  [)o.s.sessio!i  of  liuasear. 

This  new  order  of  things  produced  no  evil  etl'i.-ets  for 
about  live  years.  llua.-<car  maintained  his  court  at  the 
old  capital,  C'n/.eo,  while  Atahualli)a  remained  at  Quito; 
neither  interfering  with  the  other's  rights  ol' jurisdiction. 
Their  respective  subjects  readily  acquiesced  in  the  new 
arrangement. 

Dill'erent  aei;ounts  are  given  of  the  lir.st  cau.ses  of  rup- 
ture bt'tween  the  brothers;  but  whatever  occasioned  it, 
the  contest  which  ensued  was  bloody  and  disiustrous  in  the 
exli'eme.  But  for  the  disturbed  and  di.stracted  state  of  the 
empire  consequent  upon  this  civil  war,  it  would  have  been 
utterly  impo.ssible  for  the  Spaniards,  with  the  insignilieant 
force  which  they  finally  brought  into  the  iieUl,  to  have 
overcome  and  subverted  such  an  innnensc  and  power- 
ful empire. 

The  first  important  engagement  between  the  armies  of 
the  contending  princes  took  place  at  Ifambala,  about 
sixty  leagues  south  iVom  Quito.  In  this  battle,  lluascar's 
forces  were  utterly  defeated,  and  his  victorious  brother 
pre  'cd  onward  to  Tumebamba,  no  great  distance  from 
Tumov-.      This  eily  belonged  to  Atalniall})a's  kingdom, 


542 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMKUICA, 


•Uv 


4: 


but  the  iuliabitants  had  taken  up  arrtis  in  favor  of  Iluas- 
car.  In  vain  did  tlicy  sue  for  mercy  from  the  conqueror: 
the  wliolo  district  was  ravaged,  and  all  male  adults  v/erc 
put  to  deaJi.  rroceeding  on  his  march,  Atahnallj)a 
reached  Caxamalca,  where  lie  took  up  his  (quarters,  and 
sent  forward  the  chief  portit)n  of  his  army  to  meet  the 
forces  prepared  for  the  protection  of  the  ancient  cajiital 
of  IVru. 

A  bloody  and  des[)orate  battle  was  fought  tier-  the  city, 
in  which  the  invader  was  again  completely  victorious. 
Jluascar  ',vas  taken  prisoner,  and  placed  in  close  conlinc- 
ment,  but  '-is  brother  had  enough  of  natural  humanity  ^o 
order  that  ail  respect  should  bo  shown  him  in  his  lalleti 
fortunes.  If  we  are  to  believe  some  accounts,  Atahuall()a 
sullied  the  fame  which  his  successes  might  have  actpiired 
him,  by  acts  of  the  most  uidieard-of  barbarity.  It  is  said 
that  he  j)ut  to  death,  and  that  too  by  lingering  tortures, 
all  of  the  royal  family  upon  whom  he  could  lay  his  hands, 
including  the  female  branches  of  the  family,  that  he  might 
cut  off  all  possibility  of  a  rival  appearing  to  contest  his 
right  to  the  throne.  Modern  hbtorians  have  pointed  out 
so  many  discrepancies  and  improbabilities  in  the  details 
of  this  transaction,  tliat  they  must  bo  now  considered  as 
grossly  exaggerated,  if  not  utterly  false. 

Atahuallpa,  now  claiming  the  title  of  Tnea,  and  rc\joicing 
in  the  possession  of  the  whole  of  the  immense  empire  of 
his  father,  luild  his  court  at  Caxamalca.  In  the  midst  of 
his  exultation  and  triumph,  news  was  brought  of  a  fresh 
arrival  of  Spanish  ships  upon  the  coaat. 


SOUTH  AMKlilOAN  INDIANS.  5-i3 


CIIArTKK  III. 

PIZARIio's  VISIT    TO    SPAIN    AM)    AI'l'MCATION    TO  TIIK    EMPEROR 

H'S  I'OUll  UROTIIIIRS funds    PUOCURED  for  a  new  KXI'EIJITION 

TO    ri;i!U VKSSELS   AIJAIN    fitted  OUT  AT   I'ANAMA LANDING 

OF  THE    SPANIARDS    UPO.N  THE  PERUVIAN    COAST PLUNDER 

AT    COAQUE THE    JIAKOH    TOWARDS    TUMIiEZ HATT1,ES 

ON  THE    ISLE    OF   PUNA TU.MIiKZ    DESERTED SETTLE- 
MENT OF  SAN   MHiUEL MAIU'II    INTO  THE    INTEIUOR 

PASSAOE     OF    THK    ANDES MESSAGES     FROM 

ATAHUALLPA ENTRY     INTO     CAXAMALCA. 

As  Pizarro,  Almagro,  and  LiKpio,  received  no  cneonr 
ngeineiit  from  tlie  governor,  atPiinaina,  in  tlio  prosecution 
of  their  plans;  and  as  tlieir  funds  were  cxhaiisted  by  the 
first  exp('(litions,  it  boeanie  necessary  to  seek  tlie  assistance 
of  some  powerful  patron,  or  to  abandon  the  enter[)rise. 
In  tliis  emergency,  Lu(|uc  advised  an  imme<liate  n])plication 
to  tlie  Spanish  court.  In  the  discussion  nf  the  (picslion  as 
to  who  should  undertake  this  duty,  Alinogro  strongly 
urged  the  exj)cdiency  of  trusting  the  whole  matter  to  the 
])rudence  and  soldierly  iiitre[)idity  of  his  unletteied  com- 
panion-in-arms, Pizarro.  lie  was  the  man  who  had  seen 
and  experienced  more  than  any  other  of  tlie  nature  of 
the  land  of  i)romise,  and  his  unllinching  determination 
and  perseverance  seemed  to  qualify  liim  as  well  to  press 
his  suit  at  court,  as  to  undergo  the  disappointments  and 
physical  hardshijis  of  the  eoiKpiest  itst'lf 

Pizarro  consented  to  the  jiroposal,  and  sailed  for  Spain, 
where  ho  arrived  early  in  the  summer  of  1528,  carrying 
with  him  specimens  of  Peruvian  art  and  wealth,  together 
with  nr.tives  of  the  country,  and  several  of  the  beasts  of 
burden  peculiar  to  Peru.  lie  was  favorably  received,  and 
his  accounts  were  credited  by  the  Kinperor  Charles  the 
Fifth;  and  the  royal  consent  was  obtained  to  the  prosecu- 


J      ': 


,»'     !,'■•.<■. 


■■■,    I 


wm 


■:    fU 


'f-'::€ 


'''•<^?w'. 


11 


54-1 


INDIAN   IJACES  OK  AMKIilCA. 


tion  of  the  miglity  uudertivking  of  conquest.  No  pecuniary 
assistance,  however,  was  rendered  oi'  promised.  Prospcc- 
live  lionors  and  eniohuncnts  wore  bestowed  u})oii  I'izarro 
and  his  two  associates,  contingent  njton  tlieir  success,  and 
the  hitler  to  be  (b'awu  entirely  IVoiu  the  conquered  nation. 
Pi/.arro  was  to  bo  governor,  adolantado  and  algnacil 
mayor  of  i'cru,  wliicli  oll'ice  lie  was  to  till  for  life,  and  to 
which  a  lavue  salary  was  to  be  attached.  Almauro  w;i.s 
placed  in  altogether  an  inferi(;r  positicMi,  as  commander  at 
Tnnibez;  and  Father  Lucpie  wa.-'  de. hired  Bi.shop  of  that 
district,  now  to  be  converted  iuio  a  sec  of  the  church. 
()n<^-liith  ot'  the  gold  and  silver  to  bo  obtained  ])y  jtlnnder, 
and  one-tentli  of  all  gained  by  niining  was  reserved  as  a 
royal  jicnpiisite. 

]'i/.arro  imniediatelv  .set  himself  to  raise  funds  and  enlist 
men  for  the  pr(>|)o.><ed  con(piest.  Jle  was  joined  by  his 
lour  brothers,  one  of  whom,  Hernando  J'izarro,  was  a 
legitimate  son  of  donzalo.  The  other  three,  GiMizalo  and 
Juan  Pi/arro,  and  l''ranci;^eo  de  Alcoutara  were  illegitimatt.' 
children,  and  connected  with  the  hero  of  our  narrative, 
the  two  lirst  on  the  father's  side,  the  latter  on  that  of 
the  mother. 

It  was  no  ea.sy  matter  to  provide  money  for  the  necessary 
expenses  of  so  hazardous  an  exploit  as  that  proj)o.sed;  but 
fortunately  for  Pizarro,  Hernando  Cortez,  the  renowned 
con([n(U'or  of  Mexico,  was  at  this  ihnv  in  Spain,  and,  after 
seeing  and  conferring  with  him,  furni.shed,  from  his  own 
ample  stores,  what  was  needed  to  complete  an  cnitiit. 

Upon  I'izarro's  return  to  America,  serious  rpiarrels 
ensued  between  him  and  Almagro,  who,  as  appears  justly, 
thought  hin  .-If  grossly  neglected  in  the  arrangements 
entered  int.)  with  the  S])anish  government.  Lmpie  also 
di.strusted  the  good  faith  of  liis  emissary,  and  it  seemed 
too  evident  to  both  of  these  parties  to  tlio  olil  contract, 
that  I'izarro  would  readily  throw  them  aside,  should  occa- 


CA. 

>st.    Ko  pcenniiiry 
omisod.     rrospec- 
,\vcd  upon  ri/iuTd 
tlicir  success,  ami 
conquered  nation. 
I  ado   and   iilguai-il    j 
lill  lor  life,  and  to 
icd.     Alinagro  was    ; 
11,  us  commander  at    j 
jcd  Bisliop  oC  that    j 
see  of  the  chureh. 
l)tainedbypl'indcr, 
r  \Yus  reserved  as  ii 

uise  funds  and  enlist 

',  was  joined  hy  lii^ 

udo    ri/arro,  was  ii 

1- three,  CJonzalo  and 

lira  were  ille.iritinialt' 

o  of  our  narrative, 

ic  latter  on  that  ol' 


n( 


■y  for  the  necessary 
>  that  projioscd;  Itut 
lie/,  the  renowned 
in  Spain,  and,  alter    , 
lished,  from  his  own    ; 
plote  an  outiit. 
ca,   serious   ([uarrels 
lo,  asapi)ears  justly, 
n   the   arran,L!-enients 
niiuMit.      Lntiue  also 
Issary,  anil  it  seemed 
to  the  old  eontracx, 
I  asiile,  should  oeea- 


SOUTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


545 


J:   '. 


sion  offer,  and  advance  his  own  relations  in  tlicir  stead- 
These  difficulties  were,  by  I'izarro's  representations,  prom- 
ises, and  concessions,  for  the  time  smoothed  over,  and 
three  vessels  Avere  fitted  out  at  Panama  for  the  grr.nd 
expedition.  Those  in  which  the  recruits  had  been  brought 
over  from  Spain,  were  Jiecessarily  left  upon  the  other  side 
of  the  Isthmus. 

It  was  not  until  January^,  of  1531,  that  the  adventurers 
set  sail.     The  company  consisted  of  less  than  two  hundred 
men,  twenty-seven  of  whom  were  provided  with  horses; 
the  advantage  of  even  a  small  body  of  cavalry  in  fights 
with  the  Indians  having  been  so  strikingly  apparent  in  the 
proceedings  at  Mexico.     Tundiez,  on  the  southern  shore 
of  the  gulf  of  Guayaquil,  was  the  port  for  which  the  little 
lleet  steered  its  course,  but,  owing  to  head  winds  and  other 
ililliculties  in  navigation,  a  landing  was  made  at  the  bay 
of  St.  Matthew's.     I'i/urro,  with  tlie  armed  force,  went  on 
shore  at  this  place,  not  far  from  Avliere  Esineraldas  now 
stands,  and  marched  southward,  while  the  vessels  coasted 
along  the  shore.     Feeling  himself  strong  enough  to  com- 
mence serious   operations,  the   u".prinei])led   invader   no 
longer  put  on  the  cloak  of  friendship,  but  without  warn- 
ing fell  upon  the  first  Indian  town  in  his  route.     This  wius 
iu  the  district  of  Coaque.     The  natives  fled,  leaving  their 
treasures  to  be  seized  and  plundered  by  the  Spaniards. 
A  considerable  quantity  of  gold,  and  a  great  number  of 
the  larg(>st  and  most  valuable  emeralds  fell  into  tlu'  hands 
of  the  rapacious  adventurei's.      The  s[)oil  was  collected, 
and  publicly  distributed,  according  to  regulated  portions, 
among  tlic  company,  it  being  death  to  secrete  any  private 
plunder.     The  royal  fifth  was  deducted  previous  to  the 
division. 

The  vt    els  were  sent  back  to  Panama  to  excite,  by  the 
display  of  these   treasures,  the  cupidity  of  new  recruits, 
while  the  little  army  continued  its  march  towards  Tunibcz. 
•85 


.1  .*,i 


it 


:-"i 


l^'M 


J'. 

ii  •ill 


oiG 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  A5IEKICA. 


Um 


The  natives  of  the  villages  through  ^vhich  thoy  passed, 
learning,  in  advanee  of  the  vSpaniards'  approach,  the  course 
pursued  at  Coaquo,  abandoned  their  lionies,  bearing  all 
their  valuables  Avith  them.  Privation  and  sviHering  en- 
sued, The  tropical  heat  of  the  country,  famine  and 
fatigue,  began  to  dishearten  the  troops.  Worse  than  all, 
a  singular  and  malignant  cutaneous  disease  began  to  spread 
among  them.  Large  warts  or  vascular  cxeresences  broke 
out  upon  those  attacked,  which,  if  oi)ened,  bled  so  pro- 
fusely as  to  cause  death.  "The  epidemic,"  says  Prescott, 
"  v/hieh  made  its  first  a])pearanec  during  this  invasion,  and 
which  did  not  long  survive  it,  spread  over  the  whole 
country,  sparing  neither  native  nor  white  man." 

The  distresses  of  the  Sjianiards  were  somewhat  relieved 
b}'  the  arrival  of  a  vessel  fi'om  Panama,  in.  which  came  a 
number  of  new  state  odicer.s,  api)(>inted  by  the  J'lmperor 
Charles  since  Pizarro's  departure  from  Spain,  briiigiiiLr 
with  them  a  quantity  of  provision.  With  some  slight 
fu"ther  reinforcement,  the  C(  .mandiM-  brought  his  troojis 
to  the  gulf  of  Guayaquil,  and,  by  invitation  from  the  isl- 
anders, who  had  never  been  reduced  liy  the  Pci'uviaii 
monarchs,  and  scill  maintained  a  desultory  warfare  with 
their  forces,  he  took  up  his  quarters  u])on  the  isle  el' 
I'uua.  The  inhabitants  ol'  Tnmbe/,  (lying,  as  we  hasi; 
mentioned,  upon  the  southern  shore  of  the;  gulf,  and  oppo- 
site the  island,)  came  over,  in  large  nund)ers,  to  welconit! 
the  whites,  trusting  to  their  friendly  demonstrations  at  tlie 
time  of  the  early  expeditions.  Dinieulties  roon  arose  fruiii 
tlie  bringing  of  tliesc;  hostile  Indian  rac(\s  in  contact. 
Pizarro  Avas  told  that  a  conspiracy  had  been  formed  In- 
some  of  the  island  chief-^,  to  massacre  him  and  his  follov,-- 
ers.  Without  delay,  he  .seized  u])on  the  accused,  ami 
delivered  them  over  to  their  old  enemies  of  Tumbez  for 
destruction.  The  con.seipumce  was  a  fui'ious  attack  by  the 
islanders.     The  thousands  of  dusky  warriors  who   sur- 


-:J 


A. 

;,cli  tlvoy  passed, 
proacli,  the  course 
3ino3,  bearing  all 
and  sufteriug  en- 
ntry,    laniinc  and 
AVorsc  tlian  all, 
ISC  began  to  spread 
cxcrcscnccs  broke     : 
encd,  bled  so  pro-     i 
„U,;' says  Prcscott,     j 
o-  this  invasion,  and 
ul  over  tlie  whole    ;, 
lite  man.  !; 

somewhat  relieved 
,;,^  i,.  which  came  a 
^hI  by  the  iMnpemr 
)m    Spain,  bringin- 
With  some   slight 
brought  his  tr^)ops 
;itatiou  I'rom  the  isl- 
a  hy  the  rcruviaii 
ultory  wariarc  witli 
|,-rf  ui)on  the  isle   of 
(Iving,  as  we  have 
f  the  gulf,  and  o\)\w 
huiubers,  to  welcoino 
kMiionstrations  at  tlio 
Idties  L-oon  arose  IVuiii 
M  races  in  eontaet, 
Lad  been  formed  hy 
1;  h'wn  and  his  follow- 
,n  the  accused,  and 
.miesof  Tumbcz  for 
furious  attack  by  the 
warriors  who  sur- 


SOUTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


5-t( 


rounded  the  little  cncampiuent,  were  dispersed  ami  driven 
into  the  thickets,  with  very  small  loss  to  the  well-armed 
and  mail-clad  Europeans.  The  discharge  of  musketry, 
and  the  rush  of  mounted  men,  tilistcning  with  defensive 
armor,  seldom  failed  to  break  the  lines,  and  confuse  the 
movements  even  of  the  bravest  and  most  determined 
savages. 

After  their  victory  Pizarro  found  his  situation  extremely 
precarious,  for  tlie  enemies  wliom  he  had  driven  into  the 
forest  continued  to  harass  and  veary  his  army  by  night 
attacks,  and  the  difficulty  of  procuring  provisions  daily 
increased,  lie  became  desirous  of  passing  over  to  the 
main  as  speedily  as  ])ossible,  and  his  good  fortune  sent 
him,  at  this  period,  such  assistance  as  rendered  the  contin- 
uance of  his  enterprise  more  hopeful.  T\us  was  afforded 
by  the  arrival  of  the  celebrated  Hernando  de  Soto,  whose 
romantic  adventu'vs  in  after-life,  liave  been  briefly  chron- 
icled in  tlie  early  part  of  this  volume,  under  the  title  of  the 
Florida  Indians.  De  Soto  brouglit  out  one  hundred  .men 
and  a  considerable  numl  t  of  horses.  Thus  reinforced, 
the  conunander  of  the  expedite  i  at  once  undertook  the 
transportation  of  his  moii  and  stores  across  to  Tumbez. 

Instead  of  rejoicing  their  eyes  with  the  splendor  of  this 
celebrated  city,  and  luxuriating  in  its  wealth,  the  Spaniards 
found  the  whole  place  dilapidated  and  deserted.  Such  of 
the  Indians  as  ap[)care(l,  manifested  a  decidedly  hostile 
disposition,  and  several  of  the  party  (Migaged  in  transport- 
ing the  baggage  and  provisions,  upon  balsas  or  rafts,  were 
seized  and  slain.  Most  of  the  houses  of  the  city  were 
found  to  be  destroyed,  and  the  costly  ornaments  and 
decorations  were  all  strip{)ed  from  the  tenipl(\  It  cannot 
be  certainly  known,  at  this  day,  what  wo'c  the  causes  for 
this  conduct  on  the  part  of  the  pt-ople  of  Tumbe/.  The 
curacaof  the  place  was  taken  prisoner  by  some  of  Pizarro's 
men,  and  his  explanation  of  the  matter  was,  that  the  wat 


'•  't: 


1;  ^1 


518 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AMERICA. 


'ix-" 


with  the  Puna  islanders  liad  resulted  in  this  demolition  of 

the  city.     No  certain  intelligence  was  ever  obtained  of  the 

fate  of  those  whites  who  had  been  lei't  at  Tumbez  at  the 

time  of  the  former  expedition  of  discovery. 

It  now  became  evident  to  Pi/arro  that  he  should  have 

some  fixed  place  of  settlement,  where  his  troops  miglit 

encamp  and  live  in  safety  until  a  proper  o{)portunity  pre-   i  j 

sented  itself  for  more  active  operations,     lie  therefore  set   i| 

-  M 

himself  to  explore  the  country  to  the  southward.     In  con-    i  | 

ducting  this  examination,  he  made  use  of  a  more  concilia-     ' 

tory  policy  than  hcrett)fore,  in  his  intercourse  with  the 

natives,  and   took   pains   to   restrain,   for  the  time,  tlie 

rapacity  of  his  followers.     IMic  remit  was  that  the  Indians 

were  in  turn  friendly  and  hospitable.     A  settlement  was 

made,  and  the  foundation  of  a  town,  called  San  Miguel,    , 

conunenced  on  the  river  Piura.     Numbers  of  tlie  natives 

were   reduced  to  vassalage,   and   distributed   among  the 

Spaniards  to  aid  in  the  labor  of  improving  and  extending 

the  village. 

Pizarro  had  gathered  information,  by  means  of  the  in- 
terpreters in  his  company — the  natives  formerly  taken  by 
him  to  Si)ain— of  the  ])olitical  state  of  the  country,  and  of 
the  present  location  of  .'\talniall])a,  at  or  near  Caxamalca. 
He  had  secui..d  a  considerable  amount  of  gold,  which  was 
sent  ba>.k  to  Panama,  by  consent  of  the  ci->mj)any,  and 
applied,  after  deducting  the  perquisites  of  the  crown,  to 
defray  the  expense  of  fitting  out  the  ex})edition. 

The  whole  summer  was  spent  in  these  o})erations,  and 
it  was  not  until  the  2-ith  of  Sej)teniber,  1532,  that  the 
commander  was  })repared  to  lead  his  small  army  into  the 
interior.  His  Avhole  force  was  less  than  two  hundred  men,  ' 
from  whom  it  was  necessary  to  deduct  a  portion  for  the 
purpose  of  garrisoning  San  Miguel.  On  the  march  towards 
the  enormous  range  of  mountains  which  they  were  to 
cross,  the  Spaniards  refrained  from  rapine  and  ])lunder. 


A. 

this  demolition  of 
cr  obtained  ol'  the 
at  Tunibc/  at  the 

iry. 

it  lie  should  liave 

his  troops  might 
T  opportunity  pre-   1 
He  therefore  set  j 
)uthward.     In  con-   { 
of  a  more  concilia- 
tcrcoursc  with  the 

for  the  time,  the 
:us  that  the  Indians 
A  settlement  was 
called  San  Miguel, 
d)ers  of  the  natives 
,ributed  among  tlie 
ving  and  extending 


iy  means  of  the  in- 
5  formerly  taken  by 
the  country,  and  of 
or  near  Caxamalea. 
t  of  gold,  which  was 
th(>  comi)any,  and 
,L>s  of  the  crown,  to 
xjteditioii. 

hcse  operations,  and 

,ber,   1532,  that  the 

small  army  into  the 

.n  two  hundred  men, 

ict  a  portion  for  the 

n  the  march  towards 

kvhich  they  were  to 
Irapinc  and  ])lunder. 


SOUTH  AilKRICAN  INDIANS. 


549 


They  were  therefore  received  witli  kindly  curiosity  by  the 
inhabitants,  and  in  tlieir  progress  availed  themselves  with- 
out molestation  of  the  jjublic  fortresses  and  sheltered 
stopping-places  prepared  uj)on  the  high  roads  for  the  use 
of  tlu!  royal  armies.  'IMiey  were  deliglited  with  the  rich 
and  highly-cultivated  ai)i)earance  of  many  of  the  beautiful 
vallies  passed  upou  the  route. 

The  company  consisted  of  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
seven  men,  of  whom  sixty-seven  were  mounted.  From 
this  number,  nine  malcontents  were  suffered  by  the  pru- 
dent lea<ler  to  return  to  San  Miguel,  upon  pretence  that 
tlie  garrison  left  there  was  too  weak,  but  in  reality  to  pre- 
vent the  spre;^!  of  discontent  among  the  troo])S. 

In  a  hopei'ul  spirit,  and  with  strengthened  confidence  in 
their  connnaiider,  the  little  cavalcade  pressed  on  to  Zaran, 
a  fertile  settlement  amid  the  mountains.  A  few  leagues 
south  of  this  }>laee,  at  Caxas,  a  garrison  of  the  Inca's  troops 
was  said  to  b(>  stationed,  and  thither  Pizarro  sent  an  em- 
bassy, under  the  direction  of  De  Soto,  to  open  a  connuu- 
nication  with  the  prince.  '^Phe  messengers  were  absent  no 
less  tlian  a  week;  but  they  finally  returned  in  safety, 
accompanied  by  one  of  the  ollicers  of  the  Inca,  hearing 
rich  presents  and  messages  of  welcome  and  invitation 
from  the  monarch  in  person.  Pizarro  received  this  noble 
with  the  respect  due  to  his  rank  and  position,  bestowing 
upon  him  such  gifts  as  would  be  most  attractive  in  the 
eyes  of  a  person  ignorant  of  European  arts.  At  his  de- 
parture, the  envoy  was  charged  to  tell  his  sovereign  that 
the  band  of  whites  was  subject  to  a  great  emperor  of  a 
distant  country;  that  they  had  heard  of  the  Inca's  great- 
ness and  conquests,  and  had  come  to  proffer  their  aid  in 
his  wars. 

Continuing  their  march,  the  Spaniards  reached  the  foot 
of  the  Andes.  Nothing  but  the  fiercest  courage  and  the 
most  undaunted  resolution,  both  excited  to  the  utmost  by 


•■ifr 


550 


INDIAN  RACES  OK  AMEIUOA. 


tho  ]io]io  of  boundless  ridios  and  rowanls,  could  have 
stimulated  such  a  luuuH'ul  of  advciiturens  to  undertake 
the  ajcent  of  this  enormous  range  of  mountains,  wliere 
nothing  could  save  them  from  utter  destruction,  should 
the  forbearance  of  the  natives  cease.  The  main  mountain 
road,  stretching  olf  to  tho  soutliward  towards  the  ancient 
Peruvian  capital,  temjjted  them  to  take  their  course  in  tluit 
directioii,  while  across  the  mountains  a  narrow  and  didi- 
cult  pass  led  towanls  the  encam})ment  of  the  Inea.  It  was 
determined  to  push  on  in  the  originally  i)roposed  direc- 
tion. The  vast  and  rugged  elevations,  rising  one  beyond 
another,  must  have  appeared  to  the  unpractised  eye  totally 
insurmountable. 

u   *     *     *    TlioHc  everlasting  clouds, 
Seedtime  and  harvest,  morning,  noon,  and  night, 
Still  where  they  were,  steadfast,  immovable — 
So  massive,  yet  so  shadowy,  so  ethereal. 
As  to  belong  rather  to  Heaven  than  Earth — 
*    *     They  seemed  the  barriers  of  a  World, 
Saying,  Thus  far,  no  farther!" 

The  accounts  of  modern  travellers  have  familiarized  us 
■with  the  details  of  the  dangers  attendant  u})on  a  passage 
of  the  Andes.  What  then  must  have  been  the  attempt 
by  these  pioneers,  totally  ignorant  of  the  route,  and  mo- 
mentarily expecting  an  attack  from  the  natives  in  passes 
where  an  army  could  be  effectually  checked  by  u  handful 
of  resolute  men.  Their  fears  of  Indian  treachery  proved, 
however,  groundless;  they  reached  the  summit  in  safety, 
and,  while  encamped  about  the  fires  rendered  necessary 
by  the  sharp  air  of  those  elevated  regions,  messengers 
again  appeared,  sent  by  Ataliuallpa  to  meet  them.  A 
present  of  llama.s  proved  most  acceptable  to  the  wearied 
and  suffering  troops,  and,  from  all  that  could  be  gathered 
by  communion  with  the  ambassadors,  it  did  not  ai)i)car 
probable  that  they  would  be  molested  uj)on  their  route. 


vavds,  could  have    i 
ivi'.s  to  umU'i'tako 
inountuuis,  wliore 
loatruciion,  shouM 
'he  iniiiu  luounlain 
)\var(ls  the  aiKnout 
th(^u-  courrie  in  that 
a  narrow  and  dilli- 
>f  the  Inea.    It  was 
,lly  proposed  diroc- 
,  rising  one  beyond 
practised  eye  totally 


)n,  and  night, 
unoviiblc — 

11  E;vrtli— 
t'  a  World, 

lavc  familiarized  us 
[lant  upon  a  passage 
e  been  the  attempt 
the  route,  and  mo- 
le  natives  in  passes 
necked  by  a  haudl'ul 
in  treachery  proved, 
ho  summit  in  safety, 
rendered  necessary 
regions,  messengers 
to  meet  them.     A 
itablo  to  the  wearied 
lat  conld  be  gathered 
I,  it  did  not  appear 
u})on  their  route. 


SOUTH  AMKIUCAN  INDIANS. 


551 


Little  doubt  was  entertained  by  Pizarro  that  the  Tnca 
fully  intended  to  entrap  and  seize  lum  as  soon  as  he  should 
be  completely  in  his  power,  and  surrounded  b}^  an  irre- 
sistible force  of  his  subjects.  It  was  ascertained  that 
Atahuall])a  was  encamped  with  a  large  army  oidy  three 
miles  from  Caxanuiica,  and  that  the  city  was  abandoned 
by  its  inhabitants.  This  had  a  threatening  aitjiearance, 
but  the  Inca  continued  to  send  fiiendly  messages.  an<l  as 
it  was  too  late  to  think  of  retreat,  even  had  their  hearts 
now  fail(Ml  them,  the  Spaniards  descended  the  castci'u  slope 
of  the  Andes,  and  entered  the  valley  of  Caxamalea.  Every 
thing  now  seen  gave  tijkcns  of  ju-ospcrity,  industry,  and 
skill.  "Below  the  adventurers,"  says  Prescott,  "with  its 
white  houses  glittering  in  the  sun,  lay  the  little  city  of 
Caxamak'a,  like  a  sj)arkliiig  gem  on  the  dark  skirts  of  'bo 
sierra."  Farther  on,  the  immense  encampment  of  the 
was  seen  in  the  distance,  spotting  the  rising  ground  v.  .ih 
countless  tents.  Marching  through  the  valley,  the  troi^]-"' 
entered  the  vacant  city  upon  the  15th  of  November  (1532). 


CHAPTER    IV. 

FniST  INTKIiVIKW  WITH  THK  INCA PLANS  FOR  HIS  CAPTUUE ENTRY 

OF  ATAIUJALI.l'A  INTO  CAXAlMALCA ADDKKSS  OF  THE  CHAPLAIN 

ATTACK    HY  THE  SPANIARDS:    FEARFtlJ    ^MASSACRE  OF  THE  NA- 
TIVES, AND  SEIZURE  OF  THE  INCA — PRISONERS  AND  PLUNDER 

OBTAINED THE  PROMISED  RANSOM HERNANDO  PlZARRo's 

VISIT  TO  PACHACAMACA CHALLCUCHIMA — MESSENGERS 

SENT  TO  CUZCO — IMMENSE   TREASURE  COLLECTED  AT 
CAXAMALCA — TRIAL  AND  MURDER  OF  ATAHUALLPA. 

A  small  party  of  horse,  led  by  Hernando  Pizarro  and 
by  the  brave  and  chivalrous  De  Soto,  was  at  once  dis- 
patched to  re])ort  to  the  Inca  the  arrival  of  tlie  Spaniards. 


'  ; I- 


,  1 


.t: 


')»•*■»  .1 


oo2 


INDIAN   RACES   OF  AMEUICA. 


Dashing  boltlly  up,  upon  tlicir  spirited  horses,  the  Span- 
iiu-'ls  entered  thi>  si);ice  0(je\i])'ed  hy  the  I'ernvifin  camp, 
and  soon  stood  in  the  royal  })resenee.  Ataliuallpu,  distin- 
gnislied  by  the  "borhi,"  or  erinison  fringe  bound  around 
the  forehead,  an  onuirnent  peeuliar  to  the  Ineas,  sat  ex- 
jH'cting  their  arrival,  surrounded  by  his  olhecrs  of  state. 
He  did  not  so  far  unbend  his  dignity  as  to  pay  the  least 
attentiofi  to  the  novel  appearance  of  the  steel-elad  caval- 
eade,  but  ke{)t  his  eyes  inunovably  fixed  upon  the  ground. 
Witho.it  dismounting,  Ileriiando  saluted  the  monarch, 
and,  through  Felinillo's  interpretation,  made  known  his 
general's  avowed  ])urposcs,  and  earnestly  requested  the 
king  to  visit  the  Spanish  eamp  in  person.  One  of  tlie 
attends  .is,  speaking  in  behalf  of  his  master,  brielly  replied, 
"jl  is  well." 

Hernando  stiU  persisted  in  re(piesting  the  monarch  to 
make  known  his  ))leasure,  and  to  speak  to  them  penson- 
ally;  whereniion  Atahnallpa,  turning  his  head,  and  look- 
ing upon  hii'i  with  a  smile,  aini(nincc(l  that  he  was  then  in 
the  observance  of  a  fast,  but  would  visit  the  Spanish 
quarters  on  the  ensuing  day.  He  further  directed  that 
the  troops  should  confine  themselves  to  the  buildings  situ- 
ated upon  the  jiiaza  or  2)ublic  square. 

De  ooto  is  said  to  have  been  mounted  upon  a  noble 
charger,  and,  to  excite  the  admii-ation  o[  the  luea,  he  ])nt 
his  hor.se  to  his  full  speed,  and  wheeling  suddenly,  drew 
him  short  uj)  immediately  in  front  of  the  monarch.  Ata- 
huallpa's  nerves  were  proof  against  this  display,  and  he 
gave  no  signs  whatever  of  nny  emotion.  It  was  after- 
w^ards  reported  that  he  caused  several  of  his  attendants  to 
be  put  to  death  for  exhibiting  alarm,  upon  this  occasion, 
at  the  fury  and  s})irit  of  the  war-horse. 

Some  of  the  women  of  the  royal  household  now  offered 
the  Sj)aniards  the  fermented  drink  of  the  C(juntry,  "chi- 
cha,"  in  golden  goblets.     This  they  drank  in  their  saddles, 


.?■ 


:cA. 

horses,  tlic  Span- 

0  Peruvian  camp, 
A.tiiliuallii!i,  distin- 
igc  bound  around 

tlio  Incas,  sat  ex- 
s  olVicers  of  state, 
as  to  pay  the  least 
he  steel-clad  caval- 

1  upon  the  gro\uid. 
tted   the    nionareli, 

made  known  his 
•stly  recpicstcd  the 
jrsoii.  One  of  the 
ister,  brielly  replied, 


.\\<r  the  monarch  to  '  | 
ak  to  them  person- 
his  head,  and  look- 
that  he  was  then  in 
visit   the  Si>anisli 
lirtlier  directed  that   . 
,o  the  buildings  situ-   j 
•    I 
.nted  \\\)on  a  noble 
of  the  luea,  he  put 
ling  suddenly,  drew 
the  monarch.     Ata- 
Ihis  display,  and  he 
ion.     It  was  after- 
of  his  attendants  to 
upon  this  occasion, 

ischold  now  oflered 
the  country,  "chi- 
link  in  their  saddles, 


:=rJ 


SOUTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


553 


and  tlien  spurred  back  to  the  encampment  at  Caxamalca. 
Their  rej)ort  of  the  power  of  the  Peruvian  force  tended 
greatly  to  discourage  the  little  band  of  adventurers,  but 
only  .S(U'ved  to  nerve  their  bold  and  \inserupulous  leader 
to  a  more  determined  purpose,  liecollcctiug  the  success 
of  Cortez  in  securing  the  person  of  !Nb>nte/uma,  and 
thnmgh  him,  for  the  time,  controlling  the  oflicers  of  the 
capital,  Pixarro  determined  upon  the  same  policy.  lie 
made  known  his  resolution  to  his  i^llicers,  and  then  pro- 
ceeded to  distribute  sentinels  at  ]K)ints  where  they  could 
connnand  a  view  of  the  approaches  to  the  city,  and  of  the 
Peruvian  camp. 

At  day-break  on  the  following  morning,  Pizarro  com- 
menced his  ariangements  for  the  surjirise  and  capture  of 
the  Inca.  Tlie  great  s(iuare  (more  properly,  in  this  in- 
stance, a  triangle)  was  s\irrounded  with  low  buildings, 
with  hirge  entrances  on  the  same  level  with  the  inclosed 
s]iace.  They  were  built  partly  of  stone,  but  mostly  of 
unbnrnt  briek  or  clay.  Tlie  Spanish  cavalry,  in  two  sep- 
arate bodies,  respectively  under  command  of  nernando 
Pizarro  and  De  Soto,  was  concealed  in  large  halls,  from. 
which  a  sally  could  be  made  at  a  inoment's  wariiing.  The 
foot-soldiers  were  stationed  in  another  quarter,  where  they 
could  most  promptly  second  the  efforts  of  the  horse ;  and 
two  small  falconets,  constituting  the  oidy  artillery,  were 
placed  under  charge  of  an  olheer  called  Pedro  de  Candia, 
from  the  j>lace  of  his  birth. 

^J'lu!  Peruvian  monarch,  on  his  part,  made  preparations 
to  api)ear  in  the  utmost  state,  and  to  impress  the  eyes  of 
the  strangers  with  his  power  and  magnificence.  So  much 
time  was  occupied  in  the  movements  of  the  innnense  army, 
that  it  was  after  noon  before  the  Inea  arrived  at  the  city. 
lie  was  about  to  pitch  his  camj)  without  the  walls,  and 
])ostpone  his  visit  till  the  following  morning,  had  not 
Pizarro  sent  a  message,  earnestly  rerpiesting  him  not  to 


■V  'jit 


551 


INDTAN   HACKS   OK   AMKIMCA. 


)  ■•'■ 


(lolay  his  coiniii,i,',  as  all  wns  roiuly  for  liis  pntortuiniiicnt. 
Eiitiroly  niisuHpieious  of  tho  |»t'rli(lioiis  intention  of  tho 
Spiuiiiii'ds,  Atalmallini  I'ouiplicd  with  the  iV(jU('Sl.  ltw;iH 
liciii'ly  siiiisot  when  1k!  i-ntt-ivd  tin-  town,  uecoiiipiiiiicil  Ity 
tlioiisHiaU  ui)oii  ihoiisniitls  of  ol)SL'(|uiouH  Imt  iiii!iriii(.'il 
utttMiilunts.  JIo  wart  horiii'  by  immhcrHof  hispcoph'  upon 
a  hij;li  paliiiKiuin,  on  a  scat  of  massive  gold,  liunn,'  ali<iiil 
and  adorntMJ  with  tlic  ii'ost  hrilliaiit  feathered  work.  His 
dress  was  eipuilly  ina^iiilii't'nt,  and  sparkleil  with  tlie 
rarest  ^^cnis. 

Arriving  al  tlic  niiddlo  of  the  great  S(piare,  witli  his 
jicoplc,  to  the  number,  as  was  eomputed,  ol'  I'rom  five 
to  six  tliou.-and.  ranged  in  resi)eetful  silenee  around  him, 
Ataliualli)a  was  surprised  to  see  nothing  of  tlie  Kuro- 
jieans.  ]'ri'?-ently,  however,  the  ehajilain,  Vieenti;  de  \'al- 
venle,  made  his  a}ipeai'anee,  and,  addressing  tlu^  Ineu, 
coniuieneed  a  long-winded  oration  upon  tlu;  rehgion  of 
tho  S})aniards,  tlie  authority  of  their  monareli  and  ol'  the 
l*o]ie,  and  the  purposes  of  the  expedition;  and  ron(;ludu(l 
by  exhorting  him  to  discard  his  idolatro\is  worshij),  to 
reeeive  that  now  jjrolVered,  and  to  acknowledge  himself 
the  subjeet  of  the  emperor!  Old  I'urehas  gives  the  fol- 
lowing o'ltline  (jf  lilt!  ecelesiastie's  oration:  ^^  Kvrelkhl 
Jjonl,  it  l)elioveth  y(ju  to  know,  That  (iOI)  in  Trinitic  ami 
Vnitie  made  the  world  of  nothing,  and  forme(l  a  man  of 
the  Karth  whom  ho  called  Adam,  of  whom  we  all  hauc 
beginning.  J.' f^/i  sinned  against  his  Creator  by  disoU'- 
dienee,  and  ii.  hm.  all  his  posteritie,  except  1KS\'.S 
ClUilST:  who,  being  Cloi)  came  down  from  Heaven  antl 
tooke  lli'sh  of  the  Yn-ginc  AFahie;  and  to  i-edceme  ^hlll• 
kinde,  died  on  a  Crosse  like  to  this  (ll)r  which  cause  \vc 
worshij)  it;)  rose  again  the  third  day,  and  al'te;-  foitie  daycs, 
ascended  into  lU'auen,  leaning  foi-  his  \'icar  in  Kartli  Saint 
J''-l(r,  and  his  Succcssours,  which  we  call  J'ojies;  \\  ho  liaue 
giuen  to  the  most  Pui.ssant  King  of  S])aine,  JMnjicroni'  of 


t  ■.  ■ 


\c\. 

liis  ciilt'i'liiiiiiuiMit. 
IS  iiitontiuii  t>r  tli<! 
he  roqui'Sl.     It  wiirt 
,11,  iitroniininifl  I'V 
lioUH  ^>ut   luuiriin-'d 
4  of  lnsiR'«'itU'  n\H)n 
e  }2;oUl,  luui^'  iil»'iit 
iiIIii'VcmI  wi'ik.     ni« 

spurklod  with    the 


:iit  S(iiiiUH-,  with  liis 
iputi'd,  c)l'  IVom  livo 

siU'lH'O    liroHMtl  llilll, 

othin^'  (.(■  Ihr   Kuro- 
)hiin,  ViaMiU:dc  V;il- 
[uhhvs/ni;--  the    liu'ii, 
upon  llic  ivliuioii  <»l 
•  moiiiiirli  iintl  of  the 
iition;  iuul  mnchi.lnl 
hitrous  wunshij),  to 
kiio\vlo*l-j;v  hiiiwU' 
iR'has  gives  the;  I'oh 
,„.,,tion;     ''  Krrrllad 
(KJD  in  Triiiitic  :uul 
1,(1  t'orun'il  ;i  iiKin  of 
■  whom  we  till  hiuie 
Cn>at,or  hy  clinohe- 
ilif,    exci'ia    I1''S\^' 
wn  IVuni  lloaviMi  and 
and  to  vodocmc  Man- 
(for  whicli  eiuiso  we 
and  after  fortii' daycs, 
;  Viearin  Kavth  Saiul 
call  Popes;  who  haue 
Si)aino.  Kniperour  oi 


SOUTH  AMEUICAN'  INDIANS. 


o.'.r, 


the  "Roinfinos  the  Monarchy  of  the  AVr)rld.  Obey  the  Pop(>, 
and  feceiue  the  faith  of  CUUIST;  and  if  yee  siiall  Ijolceuc 
it  most  Ixtly,  and  that  most  liilse  wliieh  yee  Imue,  yco  shall 
doe  well;  and  kiiowo  that,  dcjiinf  the  eontrarie,  wee  will 
make  warre  on  yon,  and  will  take  away  and  hreake  your 
Idols;  theref()re  leaiie  the  (h'ei'inahle  njligioii  of  yovir  lidao 
dods."  All  this,  (to  him)  tedious  and  ineomprehensiblc 
jar<ron  was  interpreted  to  the  ineu — aceording  to  rejjort, 
with  sonu!  rath(!r  Indiennis  cMTors,  in  the  i,.\]ilanation  of 
the  religious  dogmas,  lie  listened  in  silence  until  he  heanl 
the  arrogant  and  insolent  eonclusion,  when  not  even  the 
apathy  or  self-control  of  the  Indian  was  snUii'ientto  eiiahle 
him  to  eoneeal  his  indignation.  lie  replied  in  language 
helliting  a  king,  that  no  man  enuld  claim  superiority  over 
him,  and  that  he  would  never  ahjiire  the  n-ligion  of  his 
country.  "  l<'or  the  Minperor,"  he  .said,  aceordiiig  to  l*nr- 
chas,  "lice  could  he  pleased  to  he  the  friend  of  .so  great  a 
Prince,  and  to  know  him:  but  fiu-  the  P('[ie,  he  would  not 
obey  him,  which  gaue  away  that  which  was  not  his  owne, 
and  tooke  a  Kiiigdome  from  him  whom  lice  had  neuer 
scene:  as  for  Keligion,  lu>e  liked  well  his  owne,  and  neitlier 
would  nor  ought  to  call  it  in  question,  being  so  ancient 
and  approued,  especially  seeing  Ciiut.sT  dyed,  which  neu(>r 
befell  the  Sunne  or  Moone."  'JMien  taking  from  the  Priest'.s 
liand  the  Pible  or  breviary  which  he  held  forth  as  the 
authority  for  his  unheard-of  a.ssumption,  the  liica  threw  it 
upon  the  grouiul,  angrily  announcing  his  determination 
of  calling  the  Spaniards  to  a  speedy  account  for  their 
])rcsuinption,  and  for  the  WTongs  already  inflicted  upon 
his  nation. 

'^I'lie  friar  .sought  out  Pizorro,  and  urged  him  to  make 
an  immediate  attack,  ollering  him  absolution  lor  any  sin 
he  might  commit  in  so  doing.  'J^lie  fierce  Spaniard  and 
his  impatient  troo])s  were  but  too  rcatly  to  accejit  this 
advice.     All  day  had  they  kept  their  stations  in  a  condi- 


a-  :  ll 

♦. . .,  i^j 

•V  ( ■ , "!  ■"i  i 


,'■■,(:■, 


.■1:;:.^: 


556 


INDIAN   RACES  OF  AMEllICA. 


tion  of  the  most  trying  suspense,  ready  every  moment 
to  be  called  to  action.  The  appointed  signal  was  instantly 
given,  and  in  the  midst  of  a  discharge  from  the  falconets 
and  muskets,  the  whole  force  rushed  furiously  upon  the 
unarmed  crowd  of  natives.  Never,  in  the  history  of  the 
world,  was  a  more  bloody  and  remorseless  massacre  com- 
mitted. In  the  short  space  intervening  between  sunset 
and  darkness,  several  thousand  of  the  miserable  wretclics 
were  slain  unresistinglv.  In  vain  did  the  nobles  tlironc: 
rounl  iheir  monarch,  with  noble  self-devotion  throwing 
away  their  lives  for  their  master,  and  opposing  their  bodies 
to  shield  him  from  the  weapons  whose  force  they  had  no 
means  to  avert.  The  unhappy  prince  was  taken  prisoner, 
and  securely  confined  in  an  adjoining  building,  '^flie 
Spaniards  were  greatly  struck  with  the  appearance  and 
noble  demeanor  of  their  royal  captive,  lie  is  represented 
as  not  far  from  thirty  years  of  age,  of  a  well-built  and 
connnanding  figure,  with  regular  features  and  a  singular 
majesty  of  expression — "his  countenance  might  have  been 
called  liandsome,  but  that  his  eyes,  which  were  blood-shut, 
gave  a  fierce  expression  to  his  features." 

The  oidy  Spaniard  wounded  during  this  bloody  and 
horrible  transaction  wtis  Pizarro  himself,  who  received 
a  wound  in  the  hand  from  one  of  his  own  men,  while 
endeavoring  to  ward  off  a  blow  aimed  at  the  person  of 
tl'.e  Inca. 

Next  day  the  Indian  prisoners  were  set  at  work  to  burv 
the  heai)s  of  theiv  slaughtered  companions,  and  detach- 
ments of  troops  were  sent  over  to  Atahuallpa's  former 
place  of  encampment.  These  returned  in  a  few  hours, 
driving  in  great  munbers  of  prisoners  of  l)otli  sexes,  many 
of  the  women  being  those  belonging  to  the  Inca's  house- 
hold. The  Spaniards  reserved  as  many  slaves  as  their 
need  or  pride  required ;  the  rest  of  the  prisoners  were  set 
free,  contrary  to  the  advice  of  some  in  the  army,  who 


'.-  n 


IC 


civ  every  moincnt 
igntil  was  instantly 

from  the  ftilconets 
furiously  \\\wn  the 
I  the  history  of  the 
.>lcss  massacre  com- 
ing between  sunset 

miserable  wretches 
1  the  nobles  throng 
f-dcvotion  throwing 
)pposing  their  bodies 
se  force  they  had  no 
3  was  taken  prisoner, 
ing   building.      The 

the  appearance  and 
c.     lie  is  represented    ; 
,^  of  a  well-built  and  ' 
■itures  and  a  singular 
lance  might  have  been 

hich  were  blood-shut,    : 

I'CS." 

|ring  this  bloody  and 

linisclf,  who  received 

his  own  men,  while 

Led  at  the  person  of 

I' 

'I 
Ire  set  at  work  to  bury  ', 

[ipanions,  and  detach-  \ 
^  Atahuallpa's  forn>or 
Irned  in  a  few  hours, 
[•s  of  both  sexes,  many 
,g  to  the  Inea's  house- 
many  slaves  as  their 
the  yn-isoners  were  set 
Le  in  the  army,  who 


SOUTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


557 


were  strenuous  that  tliey  should  be  maimed  or  massacred. 
The  victors  were  now  at  liberty  to  plunder  at  Avill,  and 
their  extravagance  and  waste  had  full  scope.     The  vast 
flocks  of  llamas,  so  long  the  pride  and  support  of  the 
country,  and  over  which  such  a  systematic  and  watchful 
care  had  been  exercised  for  ages,  were  slaughtered  with- 
out stint,  or  left  to  roam  neglected  among  the  mountains. 
The  stores  of  beautiful  fabrics  of  wool  and  cotton,  with 
which  the  city  was  stored,  were  open  to  the  depredation 
of  all;  and  no  small  amount  of  plunder,  in  gold,  silver, 
and  emeralds,  was  secured  i\t  the  Peruvian  camp,  or  taken 
from  the  bodies  of  the  slain,  and  laid  by  for  future  division. 
The  Inca  was,  meanwhile,  treated  with  a  certain  respect, 
hut  his  person  was  most  carefully  guarded,     lie  was  al- 
lowed the  services  of  his  attendants,  who,  throughmit  his 
captivity,  showed  no  diminution  of  obsequiousness  and 
respect,  but  bowed  as  humbly  before  their  revered  mon- 
arch in  his  fallen  fortunes,  as  when  he  sat  upon  his  tlirone 
of  state,  the  arbiter  of  life  anti  death  to  all  around  him. 

Atahuallpa  could  not  fail  to  perceive  what  was  the  mas- 
ter motive  to  all  acts  of  his  captors.  Appealing  to  this, 
he  promised  Pizarro  that,  if  he  would  engage  to  set  him 
at  liberty,  the  floor  of  the  room  where  they  then  stood, 
should  be  covered  with  gold  for  his  ransom.  The  size  of 
the  apartment  is  variously  stated,  but  it  was  at  least  sev- 
enteen feet  broad,  and  twenty  or  thirty  in  length.  As  the 
Spaniards  appeared  to  look  upon  this  promise  as  an  idle 
boast,  the  Inca  raised  his  hand  against  the  wall,  and  added 
that  "he  would  not  merely  cover  the  floor,  but  would  fill 
the  room  with  gold  as  high  as  he  could  reach." 

Pizarro  accepted  the  ofler,  and  a  line  was  drawn  around 
the  room  nt  the  agreed  height.  The  gold,  whether  in  the 
form  of  bars  ancl  plates,  or  of  vases  and  statuary,  was  to 
be  piled  without  being  broken  \\\)  or  reduced  in  bulk. 
Besides  this  undertaking,  which  was  to  be  accomj)ii.shed 


•-,  vl 


I..  ■^'- 


•;'a  /'; 


■m-^^ 


558 


INDIAX  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


within  two  montlis,  a  smaller  room  was  to  be  filled  "twice 
full  of  silver,  in  like  manner."  Messengers  were  immedi- 
ately commissioned  to  order  gold  from  every  (quarter  of 
the  kingdom,  to  be  brought  as  speedily  lus  possible  for  the 
I'ansom  of  the  monarch. 

Iluasoar,  hearing,  iu  his  place  of  confinement,  of  the 
reverse  which  had  befallen  his  brother,  at  once  opened  a 
communication  with  Pizarro,  and  made  ofters  still  more 
magnificent  than  those  of  Atahuallpa,  if  the  Spaniards 
would  espouse  his  cause.  Pizarro  expressed  his  determin- 
ation to  hear  the  claims  of  both  parties,  and  to  decide, 
from  the  evidence  that  should  be  adduced,  as  to  their 
i-espective  rights.  Iluascar  was,  very  shortly  after  this, 
}iut  to  death  by  his  keepers,  as  was  generally  believed,  iu 
accordance  with  secret  instructions  from  Atahualljia. 

'^rhe  royal  mandate,  commanding  the  desecration  of  the 
ni.'ignillecnt  temples  and  palaces,  by  stripping  them  of  their 
wt'ahii  of  precious  metals,  was  obeyed  as  speedily  as  prac- 
ticable, (jold  came  in  to  Caxamalca  \n  large  quantitici', 
but  the  difficulty  of  conveyance  caused  no  little  delay. 
AVhile  waiting  the  comiilelion  of  his  captive's  undertaking, 
J'izarro  .sent  emissaries  to  Cuzco  to  examine  the  condi- 
tion and  wealth  of  the  country,  and  di.^j)atched  his  brother 
Hernando,  with  a  small  party  of  horsemen,  to  visit  the 
city  of  Pachacamac,  three  hundred  miles  distant,  ui)oii 
the  .sea-coast.  Hernando  returned  to  Caxamalca  with  glow- 
ing  reports  of  the  beauty  and  fertility  of  the  country 
through  which  he  had  p.assed  on  this  expedition.  He  had 
visited  the  city  f  jr  which  he  had  directed  his  course,  and 
had  destroyed  the  great  idol  upon  the  temple,  the  former 
object  of  wonship  to  the  inhabitants,  and  which  had  been 
allowed  to  maintain  its  place  by  the  Peruvian  coiiqueror.s, 
nnd  to  receive  joint  homage  with  the  sun.  In  crossing  the 
rocky  and  rugged  mountains,  the  shoes  of  tlic  horses  gave 
out,  and,  as  no  iron  was  to  be  procured,  it  was  necessary 


rr 


to  be  filled  "  twice 

revs  were  immedi- 

every  quarter  of 

iis  possible  for  the 

Diifiuement,  of  tlie 
I  at  once  opened  a    '  | 
c  offers  still  more    / 
if  tlie  Spaniards   { 
•cssedbisdotermiu-   i 
tics,  and  to  decide,   '/ 
Llduccd,  as  to  tbeir 
shortly  after  this, 
;iierally  believed,  in 
,m  Atabuallpa. 
e  desecration  of  the  ; 
■ippingtbeni  of  their 
[  US  speedily  as  prac- 
in  lars^e  cpiantitie?, 
scd  no  little  delay, 
iptivc's  iindertakin^L',   , 
examine  the  eondi- 
spatched  his  brother 
|rsemen,  to  visit  the 
miles  distant,  iipon  ; 
;i\amalca  with  glow- 
lility  of  the  country 
xpedition.     lie  had 
cted  his  course,  and 
e  temple,  the  fornur 
,vul  which  had  been 
I'cruvian  conquerors, 
;nn.     In  crossing  the 
|es  of  the  horses  gave 
■ed,  it  was  necessary 


SOUTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


559 


to  replace  them  witli  silver!  or,  as  some  say,  with  a  mix- 
ture of  silver  and  copper. 

Hernando  brought  back  with  him  Challcuehima,  a  vet- 
eran officer  of  the  Inca's,  and  the  most  esteemed  and  trust- 
worthy of  his  generals.  He  voluntaril}^  accompanied  the 
Spanish  cavalcade,  having  been  told  by  its  leader  that  his 
monarch  desired  to  see  liim.  When  the  old  soldier  came 
into  his  master's  jjresence,  (barefoot,  and  canying,  accord- 
ing to  custom,  a  small  burden,  in  token  of  infcrioi'ity,)  he 
lamented  audibly  that  he  had  been  absent  at  the  time  of 
his  capture;  and,  weeping  bitterh',  kissed  the  hands  and 
feet  of  the  fallen  prince.  Atalmallpa  preserved  the  eabn, 
unbending  dignity  which  he  ever  assumed  in  connnunica- 
tions  with  his  subjet-ts. 

The  messengers  sent  to  C'uzeo  demeaned  themselves 
with  the  utmost  pride  and  insolence.  The  whole  of  the 
long  jouiiiev  was  acc(im})lished  in  litters  or  sedan-ehairs, 
borne  I)y  the  nati\'es.  At  the  royal  city  these  emissaries 
superinteniled  the  stripping  of  the  great  temple  of  its 
golden  plates  and  ornaments,  of  which  a  vast  weight  n'as 
prepared  for  transjiortation  to  Caxamalea. 

At  the  latter  place  of  cMieaminnent,  tlie  Spanish  army 
was  very  considerably  reinforced  in  the  succeeding  month 
of  February,  (153;'),)  by  tlic  arrival  of  ]'*izarro\s  old  com- 
rade Alniagn).  He  brought  with  him,  from  the  Sjianish 
settlements  on  the  Isthmus,  two  hundred  well-armed  sol- 
diers, fifty  of  whom  were  cavalry.  Thus  icernited,  Pi- 
zarro  was  eager  to  extend  his  conquests  and  a(!ipiisitions. 
The  promises  of  the  Jnca  were  not,  as  yet,  wholly  fullilled, 
although  such  piles  of  treasure  were  accumulated  as  might 
well  astonish  and  satisfy  even  the  eyes  of  the  rapacious 
Spaniards.  The  beauty  and  finish  (jf  many  of  the  mas- 
sive vases  and  iigures  were  long  after  admired  by  the 
artists  of  Europe.  Among  the  rejiresentations  of  natural 
objects  wrought  in  the  precious  metals,  was  the  ear  of 


'  ?  :  I 


!■   '■: 


■  ■  ,     * 


560 


INDIAN   RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


maize.  Of  tliis,  the  leaves  and  tassel  were  perfectly  imi- 
tated in  silver  work,  the  yellow  kernel  within  glistening 
with  the  purest  gold. 

It  was  determined  to  acquit  the  Inca  of  any  further  ful- 
filment of  his  promise,  but  to  retain  him  a  prisoner,  and 
at  once  to  break  up  and  divide  the  treasure.  Some  of  the 
more  beautiful  specimens  of  art  were  reserved  to  be  sent  to 
Spain;  the  rest  was  nielted  into  ingots  by  the  native  arti- 
sans. "The  total  amount  of  the  g<:)ld,"  as  stated  and  com- 
puted by  Mr.  Prescott,  "was  found  to  be  one  mUlion,  three 
hundred  and  twenty-six  thousand,  live  hundred  and  thirty- 
nine  jK'sv-i  dc  oro,  which,  allowing  for  the  greater  value  of 
money  in  the  sixteenth  century,  would  be  equivalent, 
probably,  at  the  present  time,  to  near  three  miUioiis  and  a 
hal/' of  poundt)  sttrliiir/^  or  somewhat  less  than  Jlflt'cn  millions 
and  a  Indf  of  dollars.  The  quantity  of  silver  was  esti- 
mated at  lifty-one  thousand  six  hundred  and  ten  marks."  : 
The  gold,  as  above  estimated,  is,  indeed,  more  than  thrice  I 
the  sum  that  the  same  weight  of  the  precious  metal  would  ' 
be  worth  at  tlie  {jresent  day.  The  ^jca'o  de  oro. is  said  to 
have  been,  specifically,  about  equal  to  three  dollars  and  , 
seven  cents. 

Of  all  this  boot}^,  the  crown  had  its  fifth,  and  the  rest 
was  distributed  in  various  proportions  among  the  numer- 
ous claimants.  Ikit  a  small  allowance  was  made  to  the 
new  recruits,  and  still  less  to  the  settlers  at  San  Migu'-i. 
Certain  suras  were  devoted  to  the  establishment  of  the 
Catholic  religion  in  the  new  country. 

Having  now  obtaineJ  ad  that  was  to  be  expected 
through  the  Inca's  intervention,  at  least  without  such  de- 
lays as  their  impatient  spirits  could  not  brook,  the  unprin- 
cipled horde  of  freebooters  whose  proceedings  we  are  now 
recording,  determined  to  rid  themselves  of  a  captive  who 
had  become  an  incumbrance. 

The  ridiculous  farce  of  a  trial  was   gone  through,  at 


'     \r,r}J. 


•<,-'.*,M 


were  perfectly  imi- 
sl  within  glistening 

,  of  any  further  ful- 
lim  a  prisoner,  and 
Lsure.  Some  of  the 
!sci'vcd  to  be  sent  to 
;  by  the  native  arti- 
'  as  stated  and  com- 
)e  one  million,  three 
hundred  and  thirty- 
ihe  greater  value  of 
)uld  be  equivalent, 

three  millions  and  a 
I  i\\Pii\  fij'lccn  viiUioiis 

of  silver  was  esti- 
■ed  and  ten  marks." 
>d,  more  than  thrice 
recious  metal  would 
-)eso  de  oro  .is  said  to 
o  three  dollars  and 


-  m 


r  J 

r 

'  ».,'. 

"'X 

i 

n 

'■•if 

ts  fifth,  and  the  rest 
s  among  the  nuraer- 
ce  was  made  to  the 
.tiers  at  San  Migu'u. 
'stablishment  of  the 


..jt-. 


^as   to  be   expected  ! 
ast  without  such  do-   ! 
ot  brook,  the  unpriu-   | 
ccedings  we  are  now 
ves  of  a  captive  who 

as   gone  through,  at 


It 


M 

:;.;;,  ;*?; 

-'} 

'vM 

i 

i  m 

M 

:■        It  n 

1 

M 


':!.,.f 


■A 


SOUTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


5G1 


which  such  accusations  as  the  following  were  made,  and 
pretended  to  he  sustained:  lie  had  been  guilty  of  polyga- 
my; of  "scpiandering  the  public's  revenues  since  the 
conquest;"  of  idohitry[!];  of  the  murder  of  his  brother 
Iluascar;  and  of  striving  to  excite  a  rebellion  against  tlie 
Spanish  authorities!  This  last  charge,  the  only  one 
brought  before  the  self-constituted  court  which  is  worthy 
of  comment,  was  utterly  unsustained.  The  country  was 
perfectly  (|uii:'t,  and  even  the  ingenuity  of  the  jin^judiced 
judges  liiiled  to  connect  the  royal  captive  with  any  attempt 
at  insurrection.  It  is  said  that  the  malice  of  the  interpre- 
ter l^VHpillo  induced  him  to  distort  the  testimony  adduced. 
This  fellow  had  been  engaged,  as  is  said,  in  an  intrigue 
with  one  of  the  Tnca's  women.  The  usefulness  of  the 
interpreter  ))rotected  him  from  punishment,  but  the  ex- 
pressed indignation  of  the  prince,  excited  the  permanent 
rancour  and  ill-will  of  his  inferior. 

Th(!  unhappy  /vtahualljKi  was  sentenced  to  be  burned 
alive  ill  the  public  square  that  very  night.  When  his 
doom  was  made  known  to  him,  he  at  first  resorted  to 
cverv  entreaty  and  expostulation  to  move  his  murderers 
from  their  diabolical  purpose.  AVitli  tears  he  reminded 
Pizarro  of  the  treasures  he  liad  lavished  on  the  S])aiiian1s, 
and  the  good  faith  which  hehadalwaysshown,  and  promised 
a  ransom  far  greater  tliaii  that  before  brought  in,  if  he  could 
but  have  time  to  ])rocure  it,  and  if  his  life  were  spared. 
Seeing  that  entreaties  and  supj)li('ations  availed  nothing, 
the  dignity  and  firm  spirit  ol'  cnduranee  of  tlie  monarch 
returned,  and  he  calmly  awaited  his  terrible  late.  V>j  the 
light  of  torches  he  was  brcugln;  out  and  chained  to  the 
stake,  and,  at  the  last  moment,  subniit;ed  to  the  disgrace- 
ful nujckerv  of  an  administration  of  the  sacraments,  and 
a  formal  profession  of  Christianity,  that  a  .-peedier  form  of 
death  might  be  awarded  him.  Ue  perished  by  the  infa- 
mous garotte. 
36 


% 


'*!• 
j«->.. 


^:m 


562 


INDIAN  RACES  OP  AMEUICA. 


t      I 


Iluriiaiulo  di'  Soto,  ii  man  who,  with  the;  faults  of  his  ago 
0''  iiat.oii,  was  vastly  superior  to  the  inercilcss  villuina 
i  .>h  whom  ho  was  associated,  was  absent  at  the  time  of 
th;A  ransaetiou,  and  <jii  his  return  eondcmnod  the  pro- 
.  ..cdiiK.r  Ml  strong  terms.  A  small  projtortion  of  the  eonipa- 
ny  thoii-,i.  the  same  with  Do  Soto,  eoiieerning  tiic  murder, 
but  by  I'ar  the  greater  number  were  but  too  glad  to  l)e  rid 
of  a  troublesome  eaj  tive,  to  trouble  themselves  about  the 
means  of  accomi)lisl' ing  their  purp'^sc.  Those  chiefly  con- 
cerned, felt  sulUeieutly  the  disgrace  attendant  upmi  their 
acts,  to  endeavor  to  shiitthe  responsibility  upon  eacli  (Hlier. 

In  "  Purehas,  his  I'ilgrimagt',"  is  the  following  smumary 
of  the  end  of  the  principal  agents  in  the  murder  of  i\ta- 
hualli)a:  "IIowl)eit  they  killed  him  notwithstanding,  and 
in  a  night  strangled  him.  But  God,  the  righteous  .liidgc, 
seeing  this  villaino\is  act,  sufl'ered  none  of  those  Spaniards 
to  die  by  the  course  of  Nature,  but  brought  them  to  enill 
and  shamefull  ends.  *  *  vVlmagro  was  executed  by  Piear- 
ro,  and  he  slaine  by  3'ong  Ahnagro;  and  him  Vaeca  do 
Castra  did  likewise  put  to  death.  John  Picarnj  was  slaino 
of  the  Indian.s.  Martin,  an  other  of  the  Biethren,  was 
slaine  with  Francis.  Ferdinandus  was  imi)risoned  in 
Spaine  k  his  end  vnknowne;  (hjii/.alez  was  done  to  death 
by  (lasca.  Soto  died  of  thought  in  Morida;  and  ciuill 
warres  cate  vp  the  rest  in  Peru." 

A  condition  of  anarchy  and  intestine  disturbance  suc- 
ceeded the  death  of  the  Inca,  and  the  rude  shock  given 
by  the  SjKinish  invasion  to  tlic  old  system  of  arbiti-ary, 
but  fixed  and  unchangeable  laws.  Seeing  the  value  at- 
tached to  the  })i'ecious  metals,  the  natives  in  many  instances 
followed  the  example  of  the  conquerors  in  plundering  anil 
destroying  the  i)ublic  edifices  of  their  own  country.  The 
quantity  of  gold  and  silver  conveyed  away  and  concealed 
for  ever  from  the  covetous  eyes  of  the  P^uropeans  was  said 
to  have  infinitely  surpassed  that  which  they  had  secured. 


'  ■•    rl  i 


SOUTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


563 


CIIAPTKR   V. 


MARCH  TOWARDS  CUZCO OPPOSTTION  OF  THK  NATIVES — DEATH  OP 

TOI'AKCA,  ANDMUKDER  OF  CHAM-CUCIIIMA — MANPOCAPAC ENTRY 

INTOTHECAIMTAr, HOOTV  OliTAINKI) — KSCAl'E  OF  MANCO,  AND 

GKNKUAr,  INSIMtliKCTKt.N SIKCiK  OFCTZCO KKVERSKSOF  THE 

Sl'ANIAKDS CIVir.  WARS KUKTHKU  HOSTILITIES  OF  MANCO 

CAPAC CRUEL  TKEATMENT  OF  THE  NATIVES DEATH  OF 

AIANCO  lAI'AC KEFOUJI.S  UM)ER  PEDRO  DE  LA  GAS- 

CA TUPAC     AiMAKU INSUKKECTION    OF   1781 

PRESENT  CONDITION  OF  THE  PERUVIAN  INDIANS. 


beeing  tlio  value  at- 
U  in  iiiaiiy  instances 
[s  in  plundering  and 
I  own  country.  The 
laway  and  concealed 
Europeans  was  said 
Ih  they  had  secured. 


PiZAKRO  now  declared  the  sovereignty  of  Peru  to  be 
vested  in  a  brother  of  Atahuallpa  named  Toparco,  and  the 
ceremony  of  coronation  was  duly  performed.  Further 
stay  at  Caxamalca  was  deemed  unadvisable,  and,  with  the 
new  Inca  in  company,  the  Spanish  army  pushed  on  towards 
the  ancient  ca})ital  of  Pern,  over  the  magnificent  road  of 
the  1  iicas.  The  ascent  of  the  mountain  ridges  was,  indeed, 
arduous  and  perilous,  as  the  road  was  intended  only  for 
loot  passengers  and  the  agilo  Pernvian  sheep  or  "camel," 
;is  the  animal  was  designated  by  early  writers.  As  in 
i'oriner  progresses,  the  granaries  and  halting-places  prc- 
parc(l  Ibr  the  royal  armies  supplied  abundant  food  and 
shelter. 

'^riie  first  attempt  upon  the  part  of  the  natives  to  arrest 
tlie  progress  of  the  cavalcade,  was  at  Xanxa,  where  they 
collected  to  oppose  the  passage  of  a  consideral)le  stream. 
Picsistance  proved  unavailing:  the  cavalry  dashed  through 
the  river,  and  dispersed  the  crowd.  Pizarro  encamped  at 
Xauxa,  and  commissioned  Do  Soto,  with  sixty  mounted 
men,  to  go  forward,  and  see  that  all  was  safe  for  a  further 
advance.  As  that  cavalier  approached  Cuzco,  after  cross- 
ing the  Apurimac,  a  tributary  of  the  Amazon,  his  com- 
mand was  ])eset  by  a  hostile  force  of  Indians  among  the 


i  ■  „  4 


VV 


56-4 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMKIIICA. 


(liingerons  p.'isaos  of  the  iiKjiintaiii  wliicli  lie  ituisi  cross  to 
rciR'li  the  capital.  By  supcrliiiin;iii  cllortrf,  the  littU;  party 
miiiiiigod  to  force  a  way  against  the  oiieiay  until  an  ele- 
vated j)lateau  was  gained,  where  there  was  room  for  llie 
niovenuMits  of  t,ho  hor-scs.  The  natives,  becoming  more 
familiar  with  the  arms  and  mode  of  fighting  a(h)pted  by 
the  Spaniards,  foiight  with  their  natural  courage  and  reso- 
lution, hut  could  a('i'(jmplisli  little  after  the  cavalry  had 
attained  an  advantageous  position. 

During  the  night,  De  Soto  and  his  men  were  gladdened 
by  the  arrival  of  Almagro  upon  the  field,  with  most  of  the 
cavalry  left  at  Xauxa.  Pizarro  had  received  advices  of 
the  danger  to  which  his  advance  was  exposed,  and 
promjttly  forwarded  assistance.  The  whole  Spanish  I'oicc 
linally  assembled  at  Xaipiixaguana,  but  a  f<!W  miles  from 
Cuzco,  111  this  delightful  valley,  a  favorite  resort  of 
the  Inca  nobility,  whose  country-seats  were  cvcsry  where 
scattered  over  its  surface,  the  army  encamj)e(l  for  n-st  and 
refreshment.  At  this  place  vai'ious  charges  weri;  bnniglil 
up  against  the  nobh;  cjld  warrior,  Challcucl'/'iia.  'I'lie 
new  Inca,  Toparca,  liad  died  during  the  halt  at  Xaiixii, 
and  it  was  thought  convenient  t(;  attribute  his  death,  as 
well  as  the  recent  hostile  movements,  to  the  machinations 
of  this  dangerous  prisoner.  Jfe  was  tried,  condeniiieil, 
and  burned  alive — the  usual  method  (jf  execution  adoplal 
by  the  Spaiuards  in  the  case  of  an  Indian  victim.  Jtisti) 
be  trusted  that  another  generation  will  look  ujioii  the  har- 
baritit's  still  persisted  in  among  the  most  enlightcmil 
nations  of  the  present  age,  with  the  same  sensations  tliat 
arc  now  aroused  by  the  remembrance  of  the  cruelties  sd 
universal  in  former  times. 

A  new  claimant  to  the  throne  of  the  Incas  had  now- 
arisen  in  the  person  of  Maiico  Capac,  a  brother  of  the  ill- 
fated  lluascar.  The  young  prince,  sj)lendidly  attended, 
came  boldly  to  the  Spanish  camp,  explainetl  the  grounds 


If' 


I  he  must  cross  to 

•ts,  the  little  party  ! 

(Miiy  until  iiu  ele-  j 

was  room  i'or  tlio  1 

s,  becoiniiig  unnv  , 

rilling  udopted  by  i 

.  courage  luul  reso-  j 
r  the  cavalry  had 


en  were  gladdi  lu'd 
d,  with  most  ol'tlif 
•cceivcd  lul vices  ul 
was   exposed,    and 
khole  Spanish  lorct' 
it  a  li'W  mik>s  In  mi 
favorite    resort   ot 
1  wx're  ev(!ry  wlicrc 
liarnped  lor  rest  antl 
arges  were  brouglil 
lialleueb'ma.     Tlie 
the  halt  at  Xauxa, 
•ibutc  his  death,  as 
Lo  tlie  maehinations 
tried,  eondenuKMl, 
1'  exi'eution  adopted 
ian  vititim.      It  is  to 
look  upon  the  bar- 
most    enlighleiii'd 
ime  sensations  that 
or  the  cruelties  so 

the  Incas  had  now 
a  brotluu-  oi'  the  ill- 
plendidly  attended, 
olaiued  the  grounds 


SOUTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


565 


of  his  claim,  and  recpiested  the  aid  of  Pi/arro  in  establish- 
ing his  rights.  The  general  received  him  kindly,  and 
seemed  to  a»!ei'tle  to  the  proposal.  In  eomjtany  with  this 
new  ally,  alter  one  nioiT;  iiniinporlant  skirmish,  the  Si)au- 
iards  entered  Ciizeo,  on  or  about  the  loth  of  Novendn'r, 
lo,'-,;!  'I'hey  were  delighted  with  the  extent  and  niagnili- 
cence  of  the  eity,  and  the  livelines;;  and  gayety  of  its 
inhabitants. 

'IV-mpIes,  ]iiddic  edifices,  royal  palaces,  and  places  of 
sepulture,  were  every  where  ransacked  in  search  of  gold, 
but  oi'ders  had  been  given  by  Pi/arro  that  private  property 
should  be  respeeted.  The  rajtacious  plunderers  were  dis- 
satislied  with  the  amount  of  treasure  discovered,  although 
no  eoni[uest  in  the  history  of  the  world  was  ever  rewarded 
by  sueh  aeipiisitions  ol' the  precious  metals,  and  proceeded 
to  siibjeet  some  of  the  natives  to  the  toi'ture,  to  compel  a 
diselosure  of  their  secret  places  of  deposit. 

"in  a  cavern  near  the  city,"  says  Prescott,  "they  found 
a  number  el'  vases  of  pui'c  gold,  rieldy  embossed  with  the 
ligures  of  serpents,  locusts,  and  other  animals.  Among 
the  spoil  were  lour  golden  llamas,  and  ten  or  twelve 
statues  of  women,  some  of  gold,  (,)theis  of  silver,  'whiidi 
merely  to  see,'  says  one  of  the  conquerors,  with  some 
iKUCt  t,\  '  was  truly  a  great  satisfaction.' "  I'pon  the  march, 
no  small  amount  of  booty  had  been  secured:  "In  one 
place,  Ibr  example,  they  met  with  ten  })laidvs  or  bars  of 
solid  silver,  each  piece  being  twenty  feet  in  length,  one 
foot  in  breadth,  and  two  or  three  inches  thick." 

^^anco  Capae  was  solemnly  crowned  at  Cuzco,  by 
Pi/.arro,  who,  with  his  own  hand,  presented  the  imperial 
badge,  the  "  borhi "  or  red  .searf  l\  >r  the  forehead.  The  con- 
queror arranged  a  ."^ystcn  of  government  for  the  city,  giving 
his  brothers  Gon/alo  and  Juan  the  ijrineijial  authority. 
The  natives  seemed  to  ac(iuiescc  readily  in  the  new  regu- 
lations, and  joined  hilariously  in  the  festivities  of  the  time. 


t,  *" 


'F 


■p'*^::-: 


666 


INDIAN   RACES  OP  AMKUICA. 


Piy-arro  now  bcthoiiglit  liiinsiiU'of  cstiiblisliiiif^  a  i!ii])itul 
for  tho  now  country  in  a  inoro  convenient  locution  tium 
either  Cii/co  or  (.^uito,  uiid  in  Jiinuiiry,  lo^J,'),  the  fbiuidii- 
timis  of  tho  city  of  Liniii  won;  luid.  IIcniiiiKh)  I'i/iirro 
hiul  boon  previously  sent  to  Sjuiiu,  with  siil)St;intiiil  speci- 
mens  of  tho  ninvly-iUMiuirod  treasures.  His  iip|iearaiu'o  at 
court,  anil  his  details  of  .strange  adventure,  excited  an  uu- 
prcecdentod  ciithusiiisiu  and  astoiiislnneiit.  barye  a(liU. 
tional  cniolunionts  and  authorities  were  eonCerred  upon 
the  principal  actors  in  thocoinpiest;  and  Hernando  rctur'icd 
to  America,  accompanied  by  numci'DUs  advciiliirers  eagor 
for  Itime  and  fortune  in  the  new  worh'.  Almayro  received, 
by  royal  grant,  authority  to  oonrpier  and  ]ii)ssess  an  im- 
mense district,  southward  of  I'eru;  and  thither  he  took  up 
his  march,  after  along  series  of  bickerings  and  ipiarrclsu  ith 
Juan  and  Cionx.alo,  n'specting  conllicling  claims  at  Cu/co. 

The  compiorors  of  the  empire  of  the  Incus  became  care- 
less and  secure:  tln^y  little  dreamed  that  there  yetexisttil 
a  warlike  and  determined  s])irit  among  tho  down-trodden 
natives,  fated  soon  to  raise  a  storm  on  (ivcry  side,  wliicli 
not  even  Spanish  valor  and  dogged  determinati(jn 


could 


rea(bly  allay. 

The  young  Inca,  Afanco  Ca))ac,  indignant  at  the  conduii 
of  the  rulers  at  Cuzco,  and  disgusted  with  tho  shudow  of 
authorit}-  which  he  was  lum.solf  alloweil  to  exercise,  nuido 
his  esca})0  from  the  surveillance  of  the  J'izarros,  and,  rous- 
ing the  whol<!  country  to  arms,  intrciu-hcil  himself  bevoiid 
the  Yucay.  Juan  J'i/.arro  in  vain  undertook  his  reca])ture. 
"With  a  snuxll  body  of  cavalry,  he  did,  indeed,  gain  a  tcia- 
porary  advantage,  V)ut  the  effect  of  superstitious  I'ears  no 
longer  operated  to  dismay  tho  Iiuban  warriors,  and  it  was 
only  by  virtue  of  hard  knock.s,  and  by  actual  suju'riority 
in  skill,  weapon.s,  and  enibirance,  that  they  could  bo  con- 
quered. The  nund»ors  of  the  enemy  were  so  great,  and  so 
fast  increasing,  that  Juan  was  obliged,  in  a  few  days,  to 


liy. 


DA. 

;il)lisliiiif^'  a  c.ipitul 
ifiil  Im'iitioii  tliaii 

li)o'},  tho  IouikIii- 
lltn-imiKlo  l'i/,;irii) 
1  subHtiinliivl  spiici' 

His  apiH'iiniiu'O  at 
mv,  cxi'ittMl  ill!  im- 
iicul.  liiirgc  luMi- 
,'rc  cunCtJircd  u[m)u 
UiTimmloreturtuMl 
■4  uilvouturcrs  ea^fcr 

Alina^-n-o  ivccivod, 
ami  jiosscss  an  im- 
1  tliillu'i'  lio  tools  up 
•f.sutnl  ipiarrelswith 
ing  cUiiins  at  Cu/.co. 
'.  Incas  biH'iuno  care- 
|iat  tlioro  yet  oxistnl 
the  (lown-trodtli'ii 
(>vcry  a'nlv,  \\\\'u:h 

(.'tcrtnination  coulil 


111 


ant  at  the  coiuliu'l 
,  itli  the  sliatluw  ol' 
I  to  cxeri'ise,  made 
l'i/arro.s,  and,  rous- 
ed liimseiriu'voiHl 
rtook  his  rccajitiire. 
iiulci'd,  gain  a  Ifiu- 
pcrstitious  I'ears  no 
warriors,  and  it  was 
y  ai^tual  suiH'riority 
tliey  could  be  con- 
,vero  so  great,  and  so 
in  a  few  days,  to 


SOUTH  AMKUICAX  INDIANS. 


507 


return  to  Cnzco,  whicii,  as  he  was  infornied  by  a  mes- 
senger, was  now  besieged  by  the  Jndiuns  in  still  uioro 
overwhi.'lniing  forco. 

In  the  elegant  language  of  Mr.  Prcseott:  "The  oxtonsivo 
environs,  as  Car  as  the  eye  could  n'aeh,  were  oeeupied  by 
a  mighty  host,  wliirh  an  indelinite  eoiii|iiitalion  swelled  to 
the  niimbcr  of  two  hundred  thousand  warriors.  The 
dusky  lines  ol' the  Indian  battalions  stretched  oiit  to  tlio 
very  verge  of  the  nioiintains;  while,  all  around,  the  eye 
saw  only  the  crests  and  wiiviiig  banners  oC  cliid'taiiis, 
mingled  with  rich  iianoplies  of  feather-work,  which  re- 
minded some  fi'w  who  had  served  under  Cortes  of  tlio 
military  eostiime  of  the  Aztecs.  Above  all  rose  a  forest 
of  long  lances  and  battle-axes  edged  with  cojiper,  which, 
tossed  to  and  fro  in  wild  coiifusiijii,  glistened  in  the  rays 
of  the  setting  sun,  like  light  playing  on  the  surface  of  ji 
dark  and  troubled  ocean,  it  was  the  lirst  time  that  the 
Spaniards  had  beheld  an  Indiiiii  army  in  all  its  terrors; 
such  an  army  as  the  Ineas  led  to  battle,  when  the  banner 
of  the  Sun  was  borne  triumphant  over  the  land." 

Tt  is  almost  inconceivabl(!  that  such  a  handful  of  men 
as  were  gatheri'il  within  the  city-walls,  slu)uld  have  b(>eii 
able  to  r<>pel  the  (()rce  now  gathered  about  tlieiii,  and  to 
maintain  their  position  until  the  enemy,  wearied  with 
hopeless  ciK'ounters,  and  sullering  from  want  of  provision, 
should  be  obliged  to  draw  oil'. 

The  bii  lings  of  Ciizco  were  nearly  all  covered  with  a 
neatly  arraiged  thatch,  and  this  the  assailants  easily  ig- 
nited by  means  of  burning  arrows.  The  whole  city  was 
wrapt  in  flames,  and  the  Spaniards,  cncamj)ed  in  the  great 
pla/a,  lUMirly  perished  from  the  heat  and  smoke.  \Vheu 
the  flames  subsided,  after  several  days  of  terrible  confla- 
gration, one  half  of  the  jiroiul  capital  was  a  heaj)  of  ruins. 

Fierce  battles  and  desperate  hand-to-hand  encounters 
succeeded:  the  Spaniards,  with  their  accustomed  bravery, 


4 


■J 


'.kl 


■>/■  5  ■ 


'  1: 


•  :'.t 


m 


'  •'  n?! 


}(;8 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


again  nnd  apiiii  fliargcd  the  enemy  in  the  field,  but  their 
numbers  were  so  great,  that  success  in  these  skirmislies 
was  eventually  useless.  The  sallies  from  the  city  were 
met  and  resisted  with  the  most  determined  valor.  As  at 
the  siege  of  Afexico,  the  Indians  seemed  to  be  careless  of 
their  own  loss,  so  long  as  they  could  lessen  the  numbers 
ol'  the  whites,  in  however  inferior  degrees.  They  no  longer 
IUmI  in  terror  at  the  aj)proach  of  the  horse.  'I'hey  had  even 
availed  themselves  of  such  of  these  useful  animals  as  lell 
into  their  hands.  Several  of  them  were  seen  mounted, 
and  the  inea  himself,  "accoiitred  in  the  Kuropean  fasiiioii, 
rode  a  ^\■ardK)rse  which  he  managed  with  considerable 
address,  and,  with  a  long  lance  in  his  hand,  led  on  his  fol- 
lowers to  the  attack."  There  are  bounds  to  the  i)hysical 
en.luranee  of  man  and  beast,  and  the  Spaniards  were 
obliged  to  submit  to  the  siege,  and  to  wait  until  assistance 
slioiild  arrive  irom  without,  or  until  the  enemy  should  be 
wvwvy  of  keeping  watch  upon  tliem.  The  greatest  anntn-- 
ance  was  in  the  possession,  by  the  Indians,  of  the  great 
fortivss,  from  the  high  towers  (jf  which  their  missiles  were 
hurled  with  deadly  eifect  upon  all  within  reach. 

It  was  determined  to  s,V)rm  this  intrenehmeiit,  and  the 
service  was  most  gallantly  perJonncd.  Juan  I'i/ari'o  a 
cavalier  spoken  of  as  superior  to  either  of  his  bi-otlu-i's  in 
humanity,  lost  his  life  in  its  aeeomplishment.  The  Peru- 
vian coinmander,  after  defending  hispost  in  person,  withthe 
most  desperate  valor,  scorning  to  be  taken  i>i'isoiier,  tlirew 
himself  headlong  from  the  highest  tower,  and  ]M'rished. 

The  siege,  which  had  commenced  in  the  spring,  contin- 
ued until  August,  when,  after  months  of  anxiety  and 
sullering,  the  little  band  of  Spaniards  were  rejoiced  to  see 
the  Inca's  forces  taking  their  departui-e.  They  had  been 
dismissed  by  their  leader  to  go  home  and  attend  to  the 
necessary  duties  of  husbandry.  Manco  intrenched  him- 
self at  Tambo,  south  of  the  Yucay. 


'!': 


\\ 


A. 

:ic  field,  but  their 
tliesc  skirmishes 
)m  the  city  were 
led  valor.     As  at 
I  to  be  careless  of 
5seu  the  numbers 
,.    They  no  lon,t>'er 
'.     They  had  even 
ful  animals  as  lell     I 
're  seen  mounted,     ' 
European  fashion,     , 
with    considerable     ' 
[lud,  led  on  his  fnl- 
ids  to  the  physical   \ 
e    Spaniards  were   \ 
-ait  luitil  assistance 
0  enemy  should  he 
'he  greatest  aniioy- 
lians,  of  the  great 
their  missiles  w^re 
in  reach. 

Ii'iichnu'iit,  and  tlie 
duaii   Pizarro,  a 
of  his  brothers  in 
[iiieiit.     Tlie   IVni- 
in  person,  willithe 
Leu  prisoner,  threw 
r,  and  }H'rislied. 
the  spring,  contin- 
is  of  anxii>ty   and 
ere  rejoiced  to  sec 
.     Tliey  had  been 
and  attend  to  the 
lo  intivnched  him- 


SOUTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS, 


569 


The  rising  among  the  Peruvians  was  very  extensive  and 
well  concerted.  Great  numbers  of  detached  plantations 
and  settlements  were  destroyed,  and  tiieir  Spanish,  occu- 
pants slain.  Pizarro  made  several  ineifectual  attempts  to 
send  relief  to  the  {-ai-rison  at  Cuzco,  wdiich  only  resulted 
ill  heavy  loss  to  his  own  jieople.  A  general  feeling  of 
gloom,  apprehension,  and  di.scontcnt  prevailed,  and  not  a 
few  of  the  settlers,  at  Lima  and  elsewhere,  were  anxious 
to  abandon  the  country. 

Upon  the  return  of  Almagro  from  his  disastrous  expe- 
dition to  Chili,  and  his  seizure  of  Cuzco,  he  su  ,eded  in 
driving  tlic  Inca  from  Tambo  into  the  moimtains,  where  he 
sought  out  a  solitary  place  of  concealment  until  op})ortuuity 
should  oiler  for  again  arousing  his  people  to  resistance. 

hi  the  dcsohiting  civil  wars  which  ensued  among  the 
rival   Spanish   claimants  of  the   country,  the  rights  and 
jH'osperity   of  the  native  inhabitants  v;ere  utterly  disre- 
garded.    They  were  unscrupulously  enslaved  and   mal- 
treated \N-liere\('r  the  jtower  of  the  Spaniards  extended. 
In  the  tlistraeted  state  of  the  country,  the   young  Inea 
again  renewed  his  efforts  at  resistance  to  his  subjects'  o})- 
pressors.    Sallying  from  time  to  time  from  an  encampment 
among  the  mountains,  between  C^izco  and  the  sea-cuast,  lie 
did  no  little  injury  to  the  Spanish  settlements,  and  rendered 
travelling  unsafe,  except  in  large  and  wi'll-arnu'd  eom- 
panies.     ..\lthough  frequently  defeated  by  Pizai'ix)"s  troo])S, 
he  would  only  retire  to  meditate  fresh  attacks,  and  the 
Spanish  commander  iinally  thought  it  advisable  to  open  a 
negotiation  with  him.     A  meeting  was   accordingly  ap- 
liointed  in  the  valley  of  the  ^'ueay,  but  the  attempts  at 
pacilleation  were  rendered  abortive  by  ninlnal  outrages. 
A  negro  messenger,  sent  by  Pizai'ro  to  the  Inca  with  a 
[iropitiatory  olfering,  was  robbed  and  murdered  by  some 
of  the  natives.     The  S]ianish  commander  chose  to  attribute 
the  act  to  Manco's  orders,  and  proceeded  to  retaliate  by 


I', «' 


570 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


il'f- 


tlie  dastardly  and  cruel  murder  of  a  young  and  beautiful 
wife  of  the  Inca,  who  was  a  prisoner  in  his  power.  She 
was  strip})ed  naked,  beaten,  and  afterwards  shot  with 
arrows.  This  cruelty  was  endured,  on  the  part  of  tlie 
victim,  with  true  Indian  fortitude.  What  a  strange  con- 
tradiction it  appears,  that  a  man  like  this,  with  his  dying 
lips  (he  was  assassinated  in  1541)  should  have  pronounced 
the  name  of  Ilim  whose  whole  teaching  and  example 
bi'cathed  the  spirit  of  gentleness  and  mercy,  and  that  his 
last  clVort  should  have  been  to  kiss  the  figure  of  the  cross, 
drawn  by  his  finger,  in  liis  own  blood,  upon  the  floor. 

As  the  S])anish  population  of  the  country  increased,  the 
condition  of  the  Indians  became  more  and  more  wretcln'il 
and  deplorable.  The  old  scenes  at  the  West  India  Islamls 
were  riienacted,  and  tiie  brutal  po}»ulace  seemed  to  make 
cruelty  and  wantcm  outrage  a  matter  of  emulatinn.  It 
was  iu»t  enough  to  enslave  the  helpless  natives,  and  U> 
compi'l  th(M!i  upon  insu(f'<ic'nt  nourishment,  and  scantily 
clothed,  to  undergo  the  killing  labors  of  the  mines  ainl 
plantations;  but  the  most  cai)i'icious  outrages  were  cvciy 
Avhcre  committed.  They  were  hunted  with  dogs,  lor. 
tlie  sake  of  sport;  all  that  they  esteemed  sacred  was 
desecrated;  their  women  were  violated  in  the  most, 
shameless  manner;  and  cruel  tortures  i>:\d  death  awaited 
him  who  should  resist  the  oppressor,  or  invade  his  riglits 
of  property ! 

One  (jf  the  most  notorious  abuses  in  the  system  of 
Spanish  government,  and  which  was  maintained  until  after 
the  insurrection  of  1781,  was  calleJ  the  "Ee])artimento." 
This  was  a  com])ulsory  distribution  of  European  goods, 
which  the  mitives  were  compelled  to  purchase  at  enoi'inous 
])rices.     "The  law  Avas  donbtless  intended,"  it  is  said  bv 


•) 


riV. 


soiiudi,  "in  its  origin,  for  the  advantage  and  „>...vcnience 
oCtlu^  nrtivc  Indians,  by  supplying  them  with  necessaries 
iit  a  rcasf)nable  price.    But  subsecpaently  the  Rei)artimiento 


SOUTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


571 


liing  and  cxiimpli 


3  mu''  .oiiVcnieiKV 
leiii  with  iieeossaries 
V  tho  Hepartiinieiito 


became  a  source  of  oppression  and  fraud,  in  tlic  hands  of 
the  provincial  authorities," 

The  system  which  regulated  the  services  of  laborers  in 
the  mines  or  on  llie  })lautations  went  by  the  name  of  the 
"  Mita."  Those  Indians  who  were  placed,  by  the  operation 
of  this  species  of  conscri])tion,  under  the  power  of  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  soil,  were  in  a  ftxr  more  miserable  condition 
than  slaves  in  whom  the  master  has  a  property,  and  whose 
health  and  lives  he  has  an  interest  in  preserving.  Such  a 
miserable  pittance  as  was  doled  out  fc^r  tlieir  sujiport,  and 
so  severe  and  unceasing  was  the  labor  required  at  tlieir 
h;iii(ls,  that  an  almost  .'ncredible  number  perished.  "  Some 
writers  estimate  at  nine  million.'  the  number  of  Indians 
sacrificed  in  the  mines  in  the  course  of  three  centuries." 

Wiien,  by  tlie  intervention  of  Las  Casas,  the  wrongs  of 
tlie  liidiiuis  received  attention  from  the  Spanish  court,  and 
extensive  pr^.visions  were  made  for  their  freedom  and 
l)i"otection,  all  Peru  was  in  a  state  of  tumultuous  excite- 
ment. It  was  the  general  determination  not  to  submit  to 
such  an  infringenuMit  of  the  luxuries  and  profits  of  life  in 
the  New  World,  as  that  of  placing  the  serfs  under  the  care 
dl'  the  laws.  In  the  midst  of  this  turmoil,  in  1544,  the 
hrave  and  patriotic  Inca  was  slain  by  a  party  of  Span- 
iards, who  had  (led  to  his  camp  during  the  factious  disturb- 
ances by  which  the  European  settlements  were  convulsed. 
They  paid  the  forfeit  for  this  act  with  their  lives. 

The  first  elVeetual  steps  taken  in  behalf  of  the  wasted 
and  o})j)ressed  Peruvians,  were  under  the  viceroyalty  of 
Pedro  de  la  Gasca,  between  1547  and  1550.  By  his  ef- 
forts, a  careful  iiK^uiry  was  instituted  into  the  condition 
of  the  slaves;  their  arbitrary  removal  from  their  native 
(listri(;ts  was  proliibited;  and,  al)ove  all,  strict  regulations 
were  made,  and — not  without  strong  op})osition — enlbrced, 
by  which  the  kind  and  amount  of  their  labor  was  precisely 
laid  dowu. 


1. 


'-*      ,   ■'! 


Oi'J, 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  Al  lERICA. 


:..,.,<■    't. 


!,   f-'-. 


Tupac  Amaru,  a  son  of  ^fanco  Capac,  who  had  resided 
among  the  remote  mountain  districts  of  the  interior  since 
his  father's  death,  was  taken  prisoner  and  put  to  death 
during  the  period  that  Francisco  de  Toledo  was  viceroy 
of  Peru.  One  of  his  descendants,  Jose  Gabriel  Condor- 
canqui,  known  as  Tupac  Amaru  the  Second,  in  aCtcr-times 
fearfully  revenged  the  injuries  of  his  family  and  country- 
men, '^riie  insurrection  which  he  headed  broke  out  in 
1781.  The  lapse  of  two  centuries  of  oppressi,)n  had  thin- 
ned the  teeming  population  of  Peru  in  a  n^^v  scarcely 
precedented,  but,  on  the  other  hand,  Europera:  v>\.'apons, 
and  military  skill,  both  of  which  they  had,  to  o  certain 
extent,  adojited,  rendered  thcirc  daiigerou;>  enemies,  and 
enough  of  the  old  patriotic  spirit  and  tradiiion  of  former 
glory  remained  to  allui'd  matr.ial  for  a  le.'ii       outbreak. 

The  long  depressed  and  hun.'h'-.to  I  n;.?i' es  Ttllied 
amuud  the  descendant  of  their  ancient  line  ol'  Incas  with 
the  great;'.^!  enthusiasm,  and,  in  iheir  successful  attacks 
upon  various  pro  vinC'.'S  where  Sj)anish  authority  had  been 
establ;- hed,  prv^'cd  ii<  ?  >reilcss  as  their  forn  or  o]ipres.-ors. 
Great  numbers  <  ;f  Spaiiiards  perislied  during  this  rebellion, 
but  it  was  finally  crushed;  and  the  Inca,  witli  a  number 
ol'  his  family,  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  Spanish  author- 
ities, was  baibarously  put  to  death.  "They  were  all 
(juartei'cd,"  .says  Bonnycastle,  "  in  the  city  of  Cuzco,  ex- 
C('itting  Diego,  (a  brother  of  Tu2)ac,)  who  had  escaped. 
So  great  was  the  A'cncration  of  the  Peruvians  for  Tupai' 
Aniaiii,  tliat  when  he  was  led  to  execution,  they  prostrated 
themselves  in  the  streets,  though  surrounded  by  soldiers, 
and  uttered  piercing  cries  and  exclamations  as  they  beheld 
the  last  of  the  Children  of  the  Sun  torn  to  pieces." 

Diego  also  perished  by  the  hands  of  the  executioner, 
tw  nty  years  afterwards,  upon  the  accusation  of  having 
instigated  a  revolt  which  occurred  in  Quito  It  is  said 
that  tlie  insurrection  of  the  Indians  under  'J'upac  Amaru— 


SOUTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


573 


the  last  important  cfTort  made  by  them  to  reestablish  their 
ancient  independence — cost  more  than  one  hundred  thou- 
sand lives. 

Since  the  great  revolutions  in  South  America,  and  the 
establishment  of  the  independence  of  the  Republics,  tlie 
Indian  population  of  Peru  have  made  no  trifling  advance. 
According  to  the  account  of  J)r.  Tschudi,  a  late  traveller 
in  the  country,  they  "have  made  immense  progress.  Dur- 
ing the  civil  war,  which  was  kept  up  iminterru})tcdly  for 
the  space  of  twenty  years,  they  were  taught  militarv  nia- 
lujinivres  and  the  use  of  fire-arms.  After  every  Inst  battle, 
the  retreating  Indians  carried  with  them,  in  tlieir  fHght, 
their  muskets,  which  they  still  keep  carefully  concealed. 
They  are  also  acrpuiintt'd  witli  the  manufactiire  of  gun- 
powder, of  which,  in  all  their  festivals,  they  use  great 
quantities  for  squibs  and  rockets." 

The  same  writer  describes  the  ]>resent  character  of  th(> 
race  as  gloomy  and  distrustful.  Tlic  Christian  religion 
has  been,  at  least  in  name,  almost  universally  dill'iiseil,  but 
the  observance  of  its  rites  is  mingled  with  many  relics  of 
the  ancient  superstitions  of  the  country,  while  the  bigotry, 
errors,  and  evil  example  of  too  many  of  those  who  have 
acted  as  its  ministers  could  hardly  result  in  the  inculcatioi 
of  the  true  s})irit  of  their  liiith.  During  the  whole  perioa 
of  Sjtanish  authority,  from  the  time  of  the  first  landin.Lj. 
the  Catholic  ecclesiastics  were  unwearied  in  endeavors  ;>> 
promulgate  their  religion.  Their  success  in  eflecting  at 
leavst  an  outward  acceptation  of  its  doctrines,  has  beet  no 
where  more  signal  than  in  South  America. 


■".1'. 


4»- 

I" 


■1 .5,.  . 


(^  ■ 


THE  ARAUCANIAN  RACE. 


C 11  ATT  Ell   I. 

ritKIR  I,OrATIO\,  APl-KAI?  ANCK,  KTC. IMIUI'IIAS'  DKSrKlPTION  OF  CHI- 

IJ DIVISION  OF  THK  TUIHF" — VKKUVIAN  fONCitlKSTS — A(;KK:tri,- 

TUKE,  .\l!TS,  KTC,  MMONCJ  Tltl':   NATIVKS — ALMACUo's  INVASION 

KXPKDITION  OF    I'KDUO    I)F,  VAI.DIVIA FOIINDINCi  OF  ST. 

JAOO HATTI.ES  • ;  'Til  THK  MAPOCHINIANS DKSTKUt'TION 

OF  SPANISH  MINKUS PKACK  WITH  THK  PKOM AFL'IANS. 

The  dirter;nit  tribes  belonging  to  tliis  bold  and  warlike 
j'aco  inhabit  Chili  and  western  Patagonia,  conuncncing 
abont  latitude  tnirty  degrees,  and  extending  lo  Terra  del 
Fuegi).  Tlie  Peenorais  of  tiiat  itsland  have  also  been  classed 
in  tli(>  same  lamily,  and  their  general  eonlbnnation  of  fig- 
nre  and  features,  except  so  far  as  the  withering  inlluence 
of  cold  and  squalid  destitution  have  deteriorated  the  race, 
would  seein  to  warrant  the  conclusion  that  the  two  nations 
were  of  identical  origin. 

The  mountaineers  of  Chili  arc  of  a  much  lighter  com- 
plexion than  the  aboriginal  nations  either  north  or  south 
of  them;  the  tribe  of  Boroanos  in  particular  have  been 
described  as  being  little,  if  any,  darker  than  Europeans. 
The  men  are  tall,  hardy,  and  vigorous,  with  exceedingly 
muscular  limbs:  their  faces  are  broad,  and  their  features 
rather  heavy  and  eniirse,  but  without  the  api)earance  of 
stupiditv  or  dullness:  they  liavc  the  briilit  eye  and  coarse 
black  hair  of  the  Indian.  Some  of  them  are  noticed  with 
heavy  beards,  but  generally  this  appendage  is  thin  and 


ACE. 


'nEsnui'TioNnFCHi- 

NCitlKSTS — ACKK'lIl,- 
.MAGUO'S  INVASION 
FOlINlllNfi  OF  ST. 

S DKSTKUCTION 

PKOMAUCIANS. 

s  bold  and  warlike 

roiiia,  commencing 

udin,^'  1<)  Terra  del 

vc  alrio  been  classed 

jiifonnatiou  of  lig- 

,'itlieviug  iullviciice 

erioratcd  the  race, 

;it  tlictwo  nations 


mucli  li,Lditer  com- 
ic!r  noi'tli  or  south 
•ticular  liavc  been 
T  tlian  Europeans, 
with  exceedingly 
;uk1  their  features 
the  appearance  of 
.:lit  eye  ap.d  coarse 
Mil  arc  noticed  with 
tnulairc  is  thin  and 


Till-:  AKAUCAMAN  HACK. 


r  "T  — 


scanty,  and  th.o  common  Inirbarous  (iustom  of  eradicating 
it  witli  ,r<omo  substitute  for  tvvee/er  is  resorted  to. 

Aitliongli  a  coMsiik'ral)ledi(rereu(H!  is  ob.servable  between 
tlic  in!ud)itaiitH  of  the  mountains  ;uid  tlie  ])lai!!S,  in  size, 
com})lexion,  &c.,  yet  tlio  similarity  in  huiguagc!  and  gen- 
eral appearance  is  considered  sulUcient  to  waiMinit  the 
conclusion  tliat  all  originally  sprung  from  the?  same  .stock. 

In  "  I'urchas  liis  lMlgriuiag(!,"  we  lind  the  following 
quaint  deserijition  of  the  physi*-;!  aspect  <jf  tlu;  country: 

"It  is  called  Chili  of  th(^  chilling  cold,  for  so  the  word 
is  sayd  to  signilio.  The  Hills  with  thcii'  high  h)iikes,  cold 
blasts,  and  couetous  eucroehings,  driuc  it  ;ilmi>st  into  the 
Sea:  only  a  narrow  A' alley  vpon  lowly  submissi  ii  '  >  her 
swelling  adversaries,  obtayneth  njonin  for  frie  and  twentie 
leagues  of  breadth,  where  it  is  most,  to  extend  lier  spa- 
cious Icngtii  of  two  hundred  leagues  on  that  shore:  and 
to  with-tand  the  ocenn's  ini'ie,  shee  paics  a  large  tribute 
of  many  streames,  which  yet  in  the  night  time  shee  can 
hardly  jK'rforme;  the  )niserabK>  Hills,  in  their  Frn-^rn  chari- 
tie,  not  imparting  thai  natural!  bouiitie  and  dutie,  till  that 
great  Arbiter  the  Sunne  ariseth,  and  sendeth  Day  with  his 
light-horse  troupe  of  Suiine-beames  to  breakc;  vp  those 
Icie  Hungeons  and  Snowie  Turrets,  wherein  Night,  the 
^Nrountaines  (jraoler,  had  locked  the  iuiioeent  W'aters. 
Once,  the  poore  Valley  is  so  hampered  betwixt  the  Tvran- 
nicall  ^Ceteors  and  I'^emcnts,  as  that  shee  often  quakctli 
with  feare,  and  in  these  chill  Fcuers  shakcth  of  and  looseth 
her  best  ornaments. 

"■'■  ■'•■  "And  sometimes  the  neighbour  hils  are  infected 
with  this  pestilent  Feuer,  and  tumble  downe  as  dead  in 
the  plaine,  thereby  so  amazing  tlu'  I'earefuU  Kiuers,  that 
they  runne  (prite  out  of  their  Channclls'  to  sceke  new,  or 
else  stand  still  with  wonder;  and  the  luotiue  heat  failing, 
fall  into  an  vncouth  tympanic,  their  bclU:s  swelling  into 
spacious  and  standing  Lakes." 


;■  11 


■  i     I-" 


576 


INDIAN  UACES  OF  AMKlilCA. 


When  tlic  western  coast  of  Soutli  America  was  fu'st 
visited  by  Juiropcans,  a  itortiou  oi'  Chili  was,  as  befure- 
mentioned,  subject  to  the  Peruvian  nKMiarchy.  'J'he  Clii- 
liau  tribes,  according  to  M(;lina,  were  lifteeii  in  number, 
each  independent,  and  governed  by  its  Ulmen,  or  cacicjue. 
"these  tribes,  beginning  at  the  north  and  proceeding  to 
the  south,  were  called  Copiapins,  Co(|uind)anes,  (.iuillo- 
tanes,  A[;ip(K'hinians,  Prouiauciaiis,  Cures,  Caucjues,  Pen- 
cones,  Araucanians,  Cunehes,  Chilotes,  Chinquilanians, 
Pehuenehes,  Puclches,  and  lluilliches."  The  first  four  of 
these,  about  the  middle  of  the  fifteenth  century,  were  re- 
duced by  the  Inea  Vuj)an(pn,  \vith<nit  much  op[)ositioii, 
but  the  Promaucians  o[)p( )sed  so  vigorous  a  resistance;  that 
the  progress  of  the  Peruvian  arms  was  effectually  stayed. 
The  conquered  provinces  were  allowed  to  retain  tlieii-  na- 
tional government  and  customs,  upon  payment  of  tribute 
to  the  Tnca. 

The  Chilians  were,  at  this  early  period,  not  only  bold 
ami  skillful  in  war,  but  had  made  much  greater  advances 
in  the  ai'ts  of  civilization  than  any  other  South  Amerieaii 
race  except  the  Peruvians.  The  country  was  too  pojiu- 
Ions  to  be  sustained  by  the  precarious  pursuits  of  hunting, 
fishing,  (Sec,  and  a  rude  l>ut  systematic  cultivation  of  the 
soil  had  become  luiiversal.  The;  vegetable  productions 
brought  under  cultivation  were  mo.stly  the  same  with  those 
used  in  Peru,  and  the  native  sheep  or  "camel,"  was  domes- 
ticated, as  in  that  country.  This  animal  furnished  the 
wool  for  the  garments  of  those  who  inhabittHl  the  western 
vallies — the  wildc'r  races  (jf  the  east  and  south  were  clothed 
in  skins,  })rincipally  of  the  guanaeo,  a  species  of  wild  goat. 

^J'heir  houses  were  generally  square,  l)uilt  of  brick,  or 
of  wood  plastered  with  clay,  and  thatelii'd  with  rushes. 
Cvdinary  utensils  were  formed  of  stone,  wood,  or  earthen- 
ware. ^i^K'y  wrought,  with  some  skill,  in  the  usual  metallic 
productions  of  tlie  country,  using,  like  the  Peruvians,  a 


A. 

\.mcrica  was  first 
li  was,  as  before- 
lareliy.  The  Chi- 
ifu-eii  in  number, 
Jlnieii,  or  eaeuiuo. 
iiul  proccc(liii;_f  to 
[uimbanes,  Quillo- 
rcs,  CaiKiues,  Pen- 
M,  Chintiuilanians, 
The  first  I'our  of 
1  centnry,  were  re- 
:  mneh  oi)i)osition, 
us  a  resistance  that  , 
^  elleetually  stayed.  ; 
1  to  retain  their  na-  I 
piiynu'ut  of  tribute   | 

Tiotl,  not  only  bold 
•h  greater  advances 
cY  South  American 
itry  was  too  poim- 
^lursuits  of  huntiii,!,', 
c  e^iltivatlon  of  the 
xetablc  productions 
tlie  same  witli  those 
camel,"  wa>  donu's- 
iiual    furnislicd   thr 
lubitexl  the  western 
.\ith  were  clothed 
;p(-cies  of  wild  goat. 
,^  l,„ilt  of  brick,  or 
trhed  with  rushes, 
e,  wood,  or  earthen- 
n  the  ns>ial  metallic 
e  the  reruvituis.  a 


TUE  AllAUCANIAN   RACE. 


577 


hardened  alloy  rjf  copjxir,  witli  other  metals,  as  a  substitute 
for  iron.  In  common  with  the  latter  nation,  a  system  of 
recording  events  or  statistics  by  the  "(piijiu,"  was  all  that 
was  observable  as  analogous  to  the  ait  of  writing. 

The  Proniiiucians,  whose  courage  and  patriotism  had  a 
century  before  checked  the  advance  of  the  royal  forces 
of  the  Inca,  were  found  no  less  formidable  by  the  first 
Spanish  invaders.  Alinagro,  after  his  frightful  passage 
of  the  Cordilleras,  in  which,  as  is  said,  he  lo.st  oiu;  hundred 
and  fifty  S})aniards,  and  some  ten  thousand  Indian  allies, 
was  well  received  by  the  tributary  provinces  of  (Jhili. 
lie  collected  no  small  booty  in  gold,  wdiieh  he  distributed 
among  his  followers,  and  continued  his  mareh  to  Coquimbc. 
Here  he  was  guilty  of  an  act  of  barbarity  too  common 
wherever  the  Spaniards  of  that  time  were  successful  in 
their  Indian  campaigns.  Two  of  his  .soldiers  had  been 
put  to  death  at  Guasco,  in  consequence  of  sinne  acts  of 
rapacity  or  violence,  and  in  revenge,  Almagro  sei/.ed  and 
burned  alive  the  chief  of  the  district,  with  his  brother 
and  twenty  other  of  the  native  inhabitants. 

Miirching  into  the  province  of  the  Promaucians,  the 
Spaniards  found  an  enemy  superior  to  any  before  encoun- 
tered. Not  even  the  terrors  of  the  cavalry  and  weapons 
of  the  Europeans  could  daunt  the  brave  mountaineers, 
who  rallied  under  the  banners  of  their  chiefs  for  the  pro- 
tection of  home  and  country.  A  single  battle  wan  sutfi- 
eient  to  satisfy  the  invaders  that  little  was  to  be  gained 
by  any  further  advance,  and  Almagro,  with  his  troops, 
returned  to  Peru,  as  heretofore  related,  to  sqv/.o  upon 
Cu7.co  as  being  contained  within  the  grant  made  to  him 
by  the  crown. 

In  lo-lO,  Pedro  do  Valdivia,  a  bold  and  active  Spanish 
soldier,  and  high  in  the  confidence  of  i^izarro,  was  com- 
ri fissioned  to  lead  the  second  expedition  against  the  pro- 
vinces of  Chili.    lie  took  with  him  two  hundred  Spaniards 
37 


t  -r; 


^'■|;i:v 


.    'i;:'/^"' 


.  J 


578 


INDIAN    RACES  OK  AMKllICA. 


iind  a  large  body  of  Peruvians,  with  the  intent  of  form- 
ing a  colony  and  coninioncinj^'  a  i)ernuinent  settlement. 
Some  of  the  (l(Mnestic  animiils  of  Kun)])e  were  taken  for 
use  of  tlie  new  colony,  and  a  munber  of  women  and  eeele- 
siastics  were  added  to  the  company. 

Crossing  the  mountains  during  the  favorable  season  of 
summer,  Valdivia  entered  Chili,  but  found  on  his  arrival 
that  the  noitiiern  tribes,  freed  from  the  yoke  of  tlie  Iiieas, 
were  disposed  to  rc'assert  their  ibrmer  independence!.  TIk; 
want  of  union,  however,  prevented  them  from  being  able 
to  stem  the  progress  of  the  S])aniards.  The  invader 
pressed  on,  crushing  all  opposition,  to  Mapocho,  the  prov- 
ince where  he  founded  the  city  of  St.  Jago, 

AVhile  the  new  cajjital  was  in  progress  of  construction, 
the  natives  of  the  district  fell  boldly  u])on  the  intruders, 
burned  their  buildings,  and  drove  them  into  a  fort  which 
they  had  constructed  in  the  centre  of  the  town.  The 
Spaniards  were  eventually  victorious;  but  the  sj)irit  of 
the  Mapochonians  was  not  broken,  and  for  years  afterwards 
they  contiTiued  to  harass  the  scttlisrs  in  every  jHASsible 
manner.  The  opening  of  the  rich  mines  of  the  valley  of 
Quillota  reconciled  the  colonists  to  every  danger  ami 
privation;  and,  for  convenient  conununication  with  Peru, 
a  vessel  was  built  in  the  river  Cliih!,  which  flows  throu"'h 
that  district. 

Valdivia  now  sent  emissaries  to  Peru,  under  convoy  of 
thirty  mounted  men,  to  beat  up  for  recruits,  ''i'hcsc  mes- 
sengers were  eight  m  nmnber,  and,  as  a  bait  to  new  adven- 
turers, their  "spurs,  l)its,  and  stiiTujis  he  directed  to  be 
made  of  gold."  A  body  of  Copiapans  attacked  this  party 
on  their  route,  and  slew  iill  exce[)t  two,  named  Alonzo 
Monroy  and  Pedro  Miranda,  whom  they  carried  to  their 
ulmcn  or  cacique.  By  the  intervention  of  the  chief's 
wife  their  lives  were  spared,  and  they  were  engaged  to 
teach  the  young  prince,  her  son,  the  art  of  I'iding,     The 


CA. 

G  intent  of  form- 
iinont  .settlement. 
()o  wore  taken  for 
women  and  ecele- 

ivorable  season  of 
and  on  Ins  arrival 
yoke  of  the  Incas, 
dependence.  Tlic 
m  from  being  able-  ; 
ds.  The  invader 
dai)oclio,  the  prov-  | 
ago.  _         i 

:s3  of  construction,    : 
ipon  the  intruders, 
in  into  a  fort  which 
af  the  iowu.     The 
but  the  spirit  of 
for  yeans  afterwards 
in  every  j'ossible 
es  of  the  valley  of 
every  danger   ami 
nicatiou  with  I'eni, 
lich  ilows  through 

u,  nndcr  convoy  of 
ruits.  These  mes- 
bait  to  ncwadven- 
he  directed  to  bo 
attacked  this  party 
wo,  named  Alonzo 
ley  carried  to  their 
tion  of  the  chief's 
y  were  engaged  to 
art  of  riding.     The 


— ==::----=^:=^ 


THE  AKAUCANIAN    RACK. 


679 


ungTateful  Spaniiirds  took  advantage  of  the  confidence 
placed  in  them,  to  nuirder  their  charge  and  escape  on  the 
honses.  They  succeeded  in  reacliing  Peru,  and  procured 
a  coiusiderablc  number  f)f  adventurers  to  try  their  fortunes 
in  the  new  and  promising  regions  of  the  south. 

The  Chili;ms  did  not  (piietly  stdjiuit  to  Spani.sli  en- 
croachments. 'J'he  inhabitants  of  Ciuilluta,  by  an  artful 
stratagem,  drew  the  .Spaniards  conn(!<.'ted  with  the  mines 
into  an  andjuscade,  and  murdered  nearly  the  whole  num- 
ber; they  followed  up  their  advantage  by  burning  the 
military  .'■■tores  and  the  ao.sscI  which  had  been  built  at 
th(^  river  Chile.  Valdivia  had  the  good  fortune  or  skill 
to  overawe  or  conciliate  the  I'romaucians,  and  au  alliance 
was  formed  between  the  Spaniards  and  that  tribe. 


CHAPTER   II. 

THE  ARAUCANIANS  I'ROPKll — CHAUACTKIi  ANtt  HABITS  OF  THE  TIIIBE 

HOIISKS    ANr)    DKESS — SKCTIONA  I,    DIVISIONS    AND    GOVERN- 

MKNT — SYSTEM    OF  WAKKAHE COUIIAGE    AND    MILITARY 

SKILL KELIUIOUS  BELIEF  AND    SUPEllSTITIONS 

1'ATRIOTISM     AND     PUHLIC     SPIRIT    OF     THE 

NATIVES — Molina's  eulogium. 

Pushing  his  conquests  and  ac(]^uisitions  further  to  the 
southward,  the  Spanish  commander,  in  LloO,  founded  the 
city  of  Conception,  but  as  the  occupation  of  this  spot  led 
to  the  important  events  connected  with  the  Araucaiuan 
war,  we  will  follow  tin;  order  of  Molina,  and  give  a  brief 
account  of  the  warlike  people  with  whom  the  Spaniards 
were  now  to  contend. 

This  author  speaks  enthusiastically  of  the  noble  char- 
acter oi'  the  Araucanians,  their  physical  perfection,  and 


I     ■■  •J 


'■f  •'  ■*■ 


ftiiii 


If'' 

'fl 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


/. 


y. 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


1 1^ 


I— 

2.0 

1.8 


U    ill  1.6 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


;V 


•N? 


i\^     A 


A 


\\ 


6^ 


.4^ 


23  WEST  MAIN  SThEET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  873-4503 


^^i/!^  i 
^  //^    ^ 

<!?, 


mk 


^ 

^ 

<^   ^ 

-          :                         -          ' 

^ 

<>. 

^^ 

V;^.!.-' 


I"-,  I  J,  .1  ■',  1      ■  • 


^':;u 


V. 


'  ^  'i',  'i' '■,'■-■ '^l 

ff'.- ■■'■■■■■  l',"/l.  ■    *" 


M^W-'rl^-:^      ... 

fc^!ifH<tr:' .  ■:■■ 

.'■■■<•     i      ■  ,    >'Y  'A     '      ■ 


■K  ■ 


580 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  A:;:ERICA. 


their  powers  of  endurance.  He  says  "they  are  intrepid, 
animated,  ardent,  patient  in  enduring  fatigue,  ever  ready 
to  sacrifice  their  lives  in  the  service  of  their  country,  en- 
thusiastic lovers  of  liberty,  which  they  consider  as  an 
essential  constituent  of  their  existence,  jealous  of  their 
honour,  courteous,  hospitable,  faithful  to  their  engage- 
ments, grateful  for  services  rendered  them,  and  generous 
and  humane  towards  the  vanquished."  Their  failings,  on 
the  other  hand,  are  "drunkenness,  debauchery,  presump- 
tion, and  a  haughty  contempt  for  all  other  nations." 

The  district  of  Arauco,  from  which  the  nation  takes  its 
name,  is  but  a  small  province  of  the  country  inhabited  by 
the  race.  This  lies  in  the  beautiful  region  between  Con- 
ception and  Valdivia,  extending  back  among  the  moun- 
tains. The  inhabitants  dwelt,  in  primitive  simplicity, 
congregated  in  no  large  towns,  but  thickly  scattered  over 
the  country  in  small  rural  villages.  Their  domestic  and 
household  arrangements  were  little  more  refined  than  we 
have  described  as  common  in  Chili.  Polygamy  was  gen- 
erally practised,  and  "the  size  of  their  houses  proportioned 
to  the  number  of  women  they  could  maintain." 

They  wore  woolen  clothing,  woven  from  the  fleece  of 
the  native  sheep,  and  consisting  of  close  fitting  under  gar- 
ments, and  over  all  the  national  Poncho,  a  most  conve- 
nient and  easily-constructed  cloak,  especially  adajited  to 
the  use  of  horsemen.  The  women  wore  long  dresses, 
with  a  short  cloak,  both  fastened  with  ornamental  brooches 
of  silver. 

The  Araucanian  system  of  government  is  described  by 
Molina  as  being  an  hereditary  aristocracy.  T'iie  country 
was  divided  from  north  to  south  into  four  sections,  the 
mountainous  region  at  the  east,  the  high  land  at  the  base 
of  the  Andes,  the  adjoining  plain,  and  the  sea  coast.  Each 
division  was  under  the  nominal  sway  of  a  Toqui,  or  su- 
preme cacique,  but  the  real  power  was  in  the  body  of  tlie 


THE  ARAUCANIAN   RACE. 


581 


lent  is  described  by 
Icracy.  The  country 
Ito  four  sections,  the 
liigli  land  at  the  base 

the  sea  coast.  Each 
^y  of  a  Toqui,  or  su- 
in  the  body  of  the 


nobility  or  Ulmenes,  who  presided  over  the  various  sub- 
divisions of  the  state,  and  who  decided  in  grand  council 
upon  public  matters.  Our  author  does  not  speak  very 
highly  of  the  judicial  institutions  of  the  country.  Much 
trouble  ensued  from  a  system  of  retaliation  by  which  minor 
offences  were  allowed  to  be  punished.  The  capital  crimes 
were  "treachery,  intentional  homicide,  adultery,  the  rob- 
bery of  any  valuable  article,  and  witchcraft.  Neverthe- 
less, those  found  guilty  of  homicide  can  screen  themselves 
from  punishment  by  a  composition  with  the  relations  of 
the  murdered."  Each  father  of  a  family  assumed  and  ex- 
ercised absolute  power  over  his  wives  and  children,  and, 
by  the  eustom  of  the  country,  he  was  not  responsible  even 
for  taking  their  lives. 

In  war,  £is  among  the  ruder  North  American  tribes,  the 
direction  and  command  of  the  armies  was  not  conferred 
upon  the  supreme  civil  potentate,  unless  from  his  known 
skill  and  bravery  he  waf'  deemed  fully  competent.  A 
war-chief  was  not  unusually  appointed  from  among  the 
inferior  officers,  and,  when  this  was  done,  an  absolute  dic- 
tatorship was  vested  in  the  chosen  leader. 

Soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  Spaniards  in  Chili,  the 
Araucanians  began  to  supply  themselves  with  horses.  Those 
which  they  obtained  in  battle  multiplied  to  an  immense 
extent,  and  the  native  inhabitants  speedily  acquired  a  re- 
markable degree  of  skill  in  their  training  and  management. 
Swords,  lances,  slings,  bows,  pikes,  and  clubs  were  the 
national  weapons. 

Such  skill  in  the  arts  of  war,  in  fortifications,  in  military 
regularity  and  discipline,  and  such  bravery  and  efficiency 
in  the  open  field,  as  was  evinced  by  the  Araucanians  in 
their  long  contests  with  the  Spaniards,  entirely  exceed 
any  thing  recorded  of  the  other  American  races. 

The  terrific  destruction  caused  by  artillery  failed  to  con- 
fuse or  appal  them.     In  the  words  of  Molina:  "As  soon 


f(:':%^ 


h'"'%- ' 


iK.;lv; 

't;«^- 

'  ■! 

,,'  ■ ,  1 

Ki\ 

.\i' 

■;¥ 

¥ 

m 

i'  r 

:$\ 

1 

1 

'i  '      )          ' 

,■,; 

r-)  ■ 

i-;:.i.. 

:.'; 


.-^•.':i 


'■-.'•.:■ 


(■•.' 


^A'i-V,:'^^^;^^ 


582 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


as  the  lirst  line  is  cut  down,  the  second  occupies  its  place, 
and  then  the  third,  until  they  linully  succ(^ed  in  breaking 
the  front  ranks  of  the  enemy.  In  the  midst  of  their  fury, 
they  nevertheless  preserve  the  strictest  oi'der,  and  perform 
all  the  evolutions  directed  by  their  officers.  The  most 
terrible  of  them  are  the  club-bearers,  who,  like  so  many 
Uerculeses,  destroy  with  their  iron-pointed  maces  all  they 
meet  in  their  way." 

^Vfter  a  battle,  the  prisoners  taken  were  held  as  slaves 
until  ransomed  or  exchanged:  in  sonic  rare  instances  a 
single  captive  would  be  sacrificed.  This  was  done,  (with- 
out torture,)  alter  the  performance  of  a  singular  preliminary 
ceremonial.  The  victim  was  brought  forward  "upon  a 
horse  deprived  of  his  ears  and  tail — as  a  mark  of  igno- 
miny." The  proper  oflicers  then  handed  him  a  pointed 
stake,  and  a  number  of  small  sticks.  lie  was  compelled 
to  dig  a  hole  in  the  earth  with  the  stake ;  and  to  throw  the 
sticks  severally  into  it;  naming,  at  each  cast,  one  of  the 
most  renowned  chiefs  of  his  own  country,  "while,  at  the 
same  time,  the  surrounding  soldiers  loaded  these  abhorred 
names  with  the  bitterest  execrations."  Alter  he  hud 
been  forced  to  cover  the  hole  "as  if  to  bury  therein  the 
re})utation  and  valor  of  their  enemies,"  some  one  of  tlie 
]irincipal  chiefs  destroyed  the  captive  by  the  blow  of  a 
war-club.  Ilis  heart,  it  is  said,  was  then  taken  out,  and  a 
little  blood  sucked  from  it  by  the  officers  standing  around; 
after  which,  tlie  body  was  dismembered,  the  bones  were 
used  for  flutes,  and  the  skull,  (if  not  cracked,)  served  for  a 
drinking  vessel. 

All  this  sounds  excessively  bai'barous,  but  Molina  tells 
us  that  only  one  or  two  instances  of  the  kind  occurred 
during  a  period  of  nearly  two  hundred  years. 

The  religious  belief  of  the  Araucanians  appears  to  have 
borne  a  strong  resemblance  to  that  of  many  North  Amer- 
ican tribes.     The  idea  of  a  supreme  being;  of  good  and 


-,  'h 


'1 


CA. 


occupies  its  place, 
ucceed  in  breaking 
midst  of  their  fury, 
order,  and  perform 
ilVicers.  The  most 
who,  like  so  many 
iited  maces  all  they   j ' 

1; 
wcYG  held  as  slaves  j 
no  rare  instances  a  ^ 
Ills  was  done,  (with-  ; 
jiiigidar  preliminary 
it  forward  "upon  a 
-as  a  mark  of  iguo  , 
iided  him  a  pointed 

lie  was  compelled 

<e;  and  to  throw  the 

jiich  cast,  one  of  the 

ntry,  "while,  at  the 

•aded  these  abhorred 

IS."     Alter   he    liad 

to  bury  therein  the 
s,"  some  one  of  tlic 
Ic  by  the  blow  of  a 
len  taken  out,  and  a 

rs  standing  around; 
|rcd,  the  bones  were 
Tacked,)  served  ft)r  a 


|)us,  l)ut  Molina  tells 
tlie  kind  occurred 
Id  years. 

lians  appears  to  have 
J  many  North  Amer- 
Ibeing;  of  good  and 


THE  ARAUCANIAN  RACE. 


583 


evil  spirits,  especially  one  great  demon  named  Guccubu; 
of  a  future  state  of  rewards  and  punishments,  and  the  im- 
mortality of  the  soul,  were  universal.  A  vast  number  of 
superstitious  signs  and  omens,  some  of  them  singularly 
analogous  to  those  of  ancient  Phxropean  nations,  were 
drawn  fi'om  earthquakes,  storms,  the  lliglit  of  birds,  and 
other  natural  phenomena. 

Each  person  believed  himself  under  the  special  care  of 
a  guardian  angel,  or  familiar  spirit,  to  whose  aid  and  in- 
fluence success  in  any  pursuit  was  generally  referred.  The 
Catliolic  missionaries  were  received  with  respect  and  kind- 
ness, but  owing  to  a  natiu'al  jdilegm  or  indillercncc  to  such 
abstractions,  they  met  with  but  little  success  in  theii-  efforts 
at  ])ronudgating  their  doctrines. 

The  tradition  of  a  deluge,  so  universally  spread  through- 
out the  world,  was  current  among  these  Indians,  and  in 
many  other  resjiects  analogies,  whether  casual  or  not,  could 
be  traced  between  their  belief  and  observances  and  those 
of  the  old  world.  The  ceremonies  and  fanciful  conceptions 
connected  with  the  sepulture  of  the  dead,  if  correctly  re- 
ported, are  not  unlike  many  of  those  recorded  of  the 
ancients. 

Besides  the  compound  of  sorcerer  and  ])h3'sician,  whose 
services  were  required  by  the  sick,  as  in  every  other  part 
of  America  when  the  country  was  tirst  discovered,  the 
Araucanians  had  medical  professors  who  made  no  preten- 
sions to  supernatural  powers.  '^Pliese  are  said  to  have 
possessed  considerable  skill  in  the  diagnosis  of  diseases, 
and  in  the  administration  of  sinq)le  remedies.  Others 
devoted  their  attention  to  the  treatment  of  broken  limbs 
and  ulcers,  which  they  accomplished  with  no  small  success. 

Among  the  peculiarities  of  national  character  observable 
in  the  race  the  most  prominent  has  ever  been  an  indomita- 
ble spirit  of  patriotism,  and  a  pride  in  their  own  country 
and  usages,  leading  to  a  supreme  contempt  for  all  other 


•i  ;  ■ 


,1.   i)t 


■  it 


'111 


i 


■  rr 


■     'I'  ■     .;'■•  '  :    ' 


'■■'  "  <   V    '  ■     A'  '*' 


584 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


nations.  Tliey  regard  their  own  race  as  one  vast  broth- 
erhood, every  member  of  which  is  bound  to  assist  ard 
befriend  his  neighbor.  Molina  says:  "The  benevolence 
and  kindness  with  which  these  people  treat  each  other  is 
really  surprising.  *  *  From  the  mutual  affection  which 
subsists  between  them,  proceeds  their  solicitude  recipro- 
cally to  assist  each  other  in  their  necessities.  Not  a  beg- 
gar or  an  indigent  person  is  to  be  found  throughout  the 
whole  Araucanian  territory;  even  the  most  infirm  and 
incapable  of  subsisting  themselves  arc  decently  clothed. 

"This  benevolence  is  not,  however,  confined  wholly  to 
their  own  countrymen;  they  conduct  with  the  greatest 
hospitality  towards  all  strangers,  of  whatever  nation,  and  a 
traveller  may  live  in  any  part  of  their  country  without 
the  least  expense." 

The  above  account  is  probably  rather  highly  colored ; 
indeed,  this  author  has  been  accused  of  no  little  exaggera- 
tion in  his  comments  upon  Araucanian  civilization.  Noth- 
ing is  more  common  than  for  a  writer  to  be  carried  aAvay 
by  his  subject;  the  biographer  almost  universally  deifies 
his  hero,  and  the  historian  of  a  particular  nation  is  but 
too  apt  to  fall  into  a  similar  error. 

In  their  houses  and  persons,  the  Araucauians  have  been 
described  as  standing  in  agreeable  contrast  with  most  of 
the  aboriginal  Americans,  by  a  most  remarkable  cleanli- 
ness. In  this  respect  they  might  well  rival,  if  not  surpass, 
the  most  polished  society  of  Europe. 


'■    ■':'  '  h'   '7'- 


CA. 

as  one  vast  broth- 

3und  to  assist  ard 

"The  benevolence 

treat  each  other  is 

Lial  affection  which 

solicitude  recipro- 

sities.     Not  a  beg- 

md  throughout  the 

!  most  infirm   and 

decently  clothed. 

confined  wholly  to 

Avith  the  greatest 

itever  nation,  and  a 

sir  country  without 

ber  highly  colored; 

f  no  little  exaggcra- 

civilization.   Noth- 

to  be  carried  away 

universally  deifies 

cular  nation  is  but 

ueanians  have  been 

itrast  with  most  of 

•cmarkable  cleanli- 

•ival,  if  not  sui'pass, 


THE  ARAUCANIAN  RACE.  585 


CHAPTER  III. 

ARMY  SENT  TO  OPPOSE  THE  PROGUESS  OF  THE  SPANIARDS — BATTLE 

ON  THE  ANDALIEN — LINCOYAN's  CAMPAIGN — VALDIVIA's  MARCH 

SOUTHWARD — FOUNDATION  OF  VALDIVIA,  AND  ESTABLISHMENT 

OF  FORTS    IN    THE  ARAUCANIAN    TERRITORY THE    NATIVES 

ROUSED  BY  COLOCOLO — CAUPOLICAN  MADE  TOQUI HIS  SUC- 

CESSES GREAT  VICTORY  OVER  THE  SPANIARDS DEATH 

OF  VALDIVIA — INVASION  OF  ARAUCO  BY  VILLAGRAN 

HIS  DEFEAT DESTRUCTION  OF  CONCEPTION LAUTA- 

Ro's    FATAL    EXPEDITION    AGAINST   SANTIAGO. 

In  order  to  check  the  advance  of  the  Spaniards,  the 
Araucanians  determined  not  to  await  an  actual  invasion 
of  their  own  territory,  but  to  cross  the  river  Bio-bio,  which 
formed  the  boundary  of  their  country,  and  attack  them  in 
force  at  their  quarters  in  the  adjoining  province  of  I'enco. 
The  great  cacique  or  'J'oqui,  Aillavilu,  with  several  thou- 
sand warriors,  was  commissioned  for  this  service.  The 
Spanish  army  was  encountered  on  the  banks  of  the  An- 
dalien,  and,  for  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  American 
eonqiiest,  experienced  the  power  of  an  enemy  little  infe- 
rior in  skill,  and  fully  equal  in  courage  and  determination 
to  the  trained  soldiery  of  Europe. 

The  Indians  fought  with  desperate  valor,  regardless  of 
the  murderous  effect  of  the  Spanish  fire-arms;  but  their 
leader  Aillavilu,  rashly  exposing  himself  in  the  hottest 
of  the  engagement,  was  slain,  and  his  followers  made  an 
orderl}'  retreat,  unpursued  by  the  Spaniards.  To  secure 
himself  against  future  danger,  A''aldivia  at  once  erected  a 
strong  fort  near  his  newly-founded  city  of  Conception. 
This  was  in  1551,  and  in  the  following  year  the  bold 
mountaineers  of  the  south  detei'inined  upon  another  great 
effort  to  dislodge  the  dangerous  colony. 


'.X" 


,>.*''■• 


,  • '  ,/(, , 


■'  ■'^f'l 


A'\. 


■'.  ■  ',  ■       '  If-  i 


586 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


One  Lincoyan,  an  Ulinon  of  huge  stature  and  imposing 
appearance,  was  created  commander  of  the  armies.  In 
three  bodies  the  Araueanians  fell  ui)on  the  Si)aniards,  and 
drove  them  within  the  fort.  Hopeless  of  efVectin^  any 
thingagainst  this  stronghold,  Lineoyivn  drew  oil'  liis  lorces; 
he  is,  indeed,  accused  by  historians  of  a  degree  of  irresolu- 
tion and  timidity  unworthy  of  his  race. 

A'aldivia,  left  in  undisturbed  possession  of  his  new  ter- 
ritories, went  on  with  the  work  of  building  his  city,  and 
streiurtheninir  his  nositit)n.  In  1552  he  felt  sulVicient  eon- 
fidence  in  the  number  of  his  followers,  augmented  by  fresh 
arrivals  from  Peru,  to  imdertake  active  operations  against 
the  Araueanians.  liincoyan  was  still  in  command,  and  his 
efforts  failed  to  arrest  the  progress  of  the  invadei's,  who 
2)ressed  on  to  the  river  Cauten,  in  the  heart  of  the  hostile 
teiritory.  Here  Vaklivia  laid  tlie  first  foundations  of  the 
future  city  Imperial,  and  sent  Alderete,  one  of  his  olficers, 
to  conuaenee  the  fonnation  of  a  settlement  by  the  lake  of 
Lauquen. 

From  this  point  the  Sjianish  commander  made  his  way 
to  the  southern  border  of  the  Araucanian  territt)ry,  where 
the  river  Caliacalla  divided  it  from  that  of  the  Cnnches, 
ex})eriencing  little  op])osition  from  the  vacillating  and 
cautious  Lincoyan.  The  Cunehes,  in  great  force,  were 
prei)ared  to  oppose  his  entry  into  their  domains;  but,  ac- 
cording to  the  accounts  handed  down  to  us,  they  were 
persuaded  to  lay  aside  their  ])urpose,  by  a  native  woman, 
named  Keeloma.  Valdivia  was  therefore  enabled  to  cross 
the  river  in  safety,  and  to  found  a  city  upon  its  southern 
bank,  upon  which  he  bestowed  his  own  family  name. 

On  his  return,  in  1553,  he  erected  forts  in  the  provinces 
of  Puren,  Tucapcl  and  Arauco.  These  operations  were 
not  carried  on  without  hostilities  with  the  natives;  but,  in 
consequence,  as  is  said,  of  the  ineflieicncy  of  the  military 
chief  at  their  head,  all  their  efforts  were  unsuccessful,  and 


Ji 


;cA. 


TUE  AHAUCANIAN  RACE. 


587 


itiire  and  imposing 
)f  the  armies.  Ju 
tlie  Si)aniiivils,  and 
,s  of  cfVoctin-,'  any 
drew  oft' his  loR'cs: 
L  degree  of  irresolu-    , 

'■  I 

^ion  of  liis  new  tor-    ' 

ilding  Ills  eity,  and 

c  felt  sufiieient  eon-    j 

augmented  by  fresh    ] 

e  operations  against 

u  eommand,  and  his    ' 

f  the  invaders,  who 

heart  of  tlie  hostile   '. 

t  foundations  of  the    ' 

[^,  one  of  his  olTieers,    i 

incnt  by  the  lake  of 

ander  made  his  way   i 
lian  territory,  where    j 
,hat  of  the  Cunehes,    | 
the  vaeillating    and    j 
u  great  foree,  were 
ir  domains;  but,  ac- 
11  to  us,  they  were 
by  a  native  woman, 
fore  enabled  to  cross 
y  upon  its  southern 
n  family  name. 
I'ts  in  the  provinces 
.ese  operations  were 
the  natives;  but,  in 
I'uey  of  the  military 
ire  unsuccessful,  and 


the  Spaniards  were  beginning  to  despise  the  power  of  an 
enemy  who  was  in  after-times  to  prove  invincible. 

Valdivia  retired  to  Conception,  rr(»m  which  town  he 
sent  forth  expeditions  in  various  direetions,  forming  mag- 
nilicent  plans  for  the  entire  occupation  of  the  surrounding 
country,  lie  antieipated  little  furtlicr  resistance  on  the 
})art  of  the  inhabitants,  but  while  he  was  indulging  these 
hopes,  and  pondering  new  schemes  of  conquest,  un  influ- 
ence was  at  work  to  counteract  his  eftbrts  and  restore  the 
native  independence.  Colocolo,  an  old  cacique  of  Arauco, 
set  himself  in  earnest  to  rouse  uj)  the  whole  luition  to 
resistance,  lie  visited  province  after  province,  pointing 
out  the  dangers  of  the  sujune  course  of  Lincoyan,  and 
urging  the  a})pointment  of  some  more  cajiable  and  ener- 
getic leader. 

A  meeting  of  the  Ulmcnes  was  .  jd,  after  the  usual 
manner,  in  an  open  ])lain,  and  the  merits  of  various  rival 
candidates  for  the  olliee  of  Toqui  were  stoi'mily  discussed. 
It  was  at  lastconeluded  to  leave  the  decision  with  Colocolo, 
who  fixed  upon  a  chief  not  before  brought  forward;  Cau- 
polican,  Ulmen  of  Pilmayquen. 

The  new  general  commenced  operations  against  the 
Spanish  fort  in  Arauco.  Having  taken  prisoners  a  body 
of  eighty  Indians,  who  had  been  sent  out  by  the  garrison 
to  gather  forage,  he  put  an  equal  number  of  his  own  war- 
riors in  charge  of  the  supplies,  with  their  arms  concealed 
among  the  bundles  of  grass  or  hay.  These  were  admit- 
ted without  suspicion  into  the  fort,  when,  grasping  their 
wea})ons,  they  attacked  the  Spaniards  with  inconceivable 
fury.  Caupolican  did  not  arrive  quite  soon  enough,  with 
his  army,  to  take  advantage  of  the  confusion  which  ensued. 
As  he  came  up,  his  brave  company  was  driven  out,  the 
draw-bridge  Avas  raised,  and  the  garrison  stationed  to  de- 
fend the  walls.  He  therefore  invested  the  place,  and,  cut- 
ting oft"  all  supplies,  compelled  the  Spaniards  to  evacuate 


Hv 


II 


I 


i 


■■V     'f 


I 


'  t 

1 

.':i 


'.\ : 


If.-; 
1 


•■'  ^■'^..,• 


lr:i:rr,,:. 


588 


TNDIAN   RACES  OP  AMERICA. 


it.  This  was  accomplished  without  loss,  by  taking  thcii 
departure  under  cover  of  night:  "at  midnight  they  mount- 
ed their  horses,  and,  suddenly  opening  the  gate,  rushed  out 
at  full  speed,  and  escaped  through  the  midst  of  their  ene- 
mies; the  Araucanians,  who  supposed  ii  to  be  one  of  their 
customary  sallies,  takitig  no  mciisures  to  obstruct  their 
flight." 

Following  up  his  advantage  Caupoliean  reduced  the  fort 
at  Tuca])el,  and  encamped  at  that  place  to  await  the  ap- 
proach of  the  Sj)aiush  army.  Valdivia,  according  to  the 
expectation  of  tlie  Toqui,  promptly  collected  his  forces 
for  a  grand  struggle  with  the  natives.  The  numbers  oi 
the  rcsj)octive  armies  arc  not  certainly  known;  but  it  ap- 
}icars  probable  that  there  were  several  hundred  Spaniards, 
accompanied  by  ten  times  their  number  of  Indian  auxilia- 
ries, while  the  Araucanian  forces  are  set  down  at  nine  or 
ten  thousand.  As  he  neared  the  enemies'  canij),  the  Si)an- 
ish  general  sent  forward  ten  mounted  men  under  Diego 
del  Oro,  on  a  scout.  These  were  surrounded  and  cut  olf 
by  the  Indians,  and  their  heads  were  hung  upon  trees  in 
sight  of  the  advancing  troops. 

It  was  upon  the  3d  of  December,  1553,  that  the  grand 
engagement  took  place.  It  was  no  ordinary  Indian  skir- 
mish, in  which,  if  the  natives  could  be  dislodged  from 
covert,  their  discomfiture  was  certain,  but  a  pitched  battle, 
depending  no  less  upon  military  skill  in  the  manoeuvres 
of  the  different  battalions  than  upon  individual  courage 
and  determination.  The  Spaniards  were,  it  is  true,  greatly 
outnumbered,  but  they  had,  on  the  other  hand,  the  im- 
mense advaritage  of  fire-arms  and  other  European  wca])- 
ons,  with  which  they  had  so  long  been  accustominl  to 
scatter  the  hordes  of  rudely-equipped  savages  who  op- 
posed them. 

The  Araucanians  appeared  utterly  reckless  of  life:  line 
after  line  would  be  swept  away  by  cannon  and  musketi'v. 


;,/■.'•>'■'•■' 


OA. 

s,  by  taking  their 
night  they  mount- 
;ie  gate,  rushed  out 
midst  of  their  ene- 
t  to  be  one  of  their  j 
to  oli)struct  their 

an  reduced  the  fort 
;e  to  await  the  ap- 
a,  according  to  the 
collected  his  forces 
.     The  numbers  oi" 
known;  but  it  ap- 
hundred  Spaniards, 
r  of  Indian  auxilia- 
ict  down  at  nine  or 
ies'  camp,  the  Spau- 
d  men  under  Diego 
ounded  and  cut  off 
lung  upon  trees  in 


553,  that  the  grand 
inary  Indian  skir- 
be  dislodged  from 
)ut  a  pitched  battk', 
in  the  manoeuvres 
individual  courage 
re,  it  is  true,  greatly 
ther  hand,  the  ini- 
ler  European  woap- 
)cen  accustomed  to 
d  savages  wlio  op- 

eckless  of  life:  line 
mon  and  musketry, 


THE  AUAUCANIAN  RACE. 


589 


but  fresh  bodies  were  ready,  at  the  word  of  command,  to 
rush  into  the  dangerous  breach.  Molina  describes  the 
result  jis  follows:  "Three  times  they  retired  in  good  order 
beyond  the  reach  of  the  musketry,  and  as  often,  resuming 
new  vigour,  returned  to  the  attack.  At  length,  after  the 
loss  of  a  groat  number  of  their  men,  they  were  thrown 
into  disorder,  and  began  to  give  way.  Caupoliean,  Tuea- 
])el  (one  of  the  most  distinguished  of  their  generals),  and 
the  old  intre})id  Colocolo,  who  was  present  in  the  action, 
in  vain  attempted  to  prevent  their  ilight  and  reanimate 
their  courage.  The  Spaniards  shouted  victory,  and  furi- 
ously pressed  u[)()n  the  i'ligitives. 

"At  this  momentous  crisis,  a  young  Araucanian,  of  but 
sixteen  years  of  age,  called  Lautaro,  whom  Valdivia,  in 
one  of  his  incursions,  had  taken  prisoner,  baptiz(;d  and 
made  his  page,  quitted  the  victorious  party,  began  loudly 
to  roproiich  his  countrymen  with  their  cowardice,  and 
exhorted  them  to  continue  the  contest,  as  the  Spaniards, 
wounded  and  spent  with  fatigue,  were  no  longer  able  to 
resist  them.  At  the  same  time,  grasping  a  lance,  he  turned 
against  his  late  master,  crying  out,  'Follow  me,  my  coun- 
trymen! victory  courts  us  with  open  arms.'" 

Such  resolution  and  courage  on  the  part  of  a  boy  roused 
the  fugitives  to  new  exertions,  and  turned  the  scale  of 
battle.  The  Spanish  force  was  entirely  destroyed — of  the 
whole  army,  it  is  said  that  only  two  Indians  escaped. 
Valdivia  was  taken  alive,  and  brought  into  the  presence 
of  the  Toqui.  Caupoliean  seemed  disposed  to  favor  the 
captive  general,  but  an  old  ofheer,  standing  by,  "enraged 
to  hear  them  talk  of  sparing  his  life,  dispatched  the  unfor- 
tunate prisoner  with  a  blow  of  his  club." 

A  more  fanciful  talc  of  the  manner  of  Valdivia's  death 
obtained  some  credence :  Purchas  makes  mention  of  it  as  fol- 
lows in  his  synopsis  of  Chilian  conquests  and  colonization ; 

"In  six  and  thirtic  desrrees  is  that  fomous  Valley  of 


f    ' 


I,  . 


i.'V. 


,.    h 


W' 


'''"■    *,  ',.".'1" 


[J 

|/;'';i„ 


-;■)■. 

] 

•3;,,'., 

t  * 

"; '? '.' 

■   i'  .1' 

■ti.-' 

:i:i 

',   ■ 

wv 


}  I 


i'.,. 


590 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMKUICA. 


Anuuio,  whicli  dcltiiul  tlioir  persons  and  frcctlomo,  m.-uigro 
all  the  force  uiul  furio  of  the  Spiuiiurds.  *  *  Tliey  luino 
destroyed  iniiny  of  the  Spaniards:  they  tookc  the  Citio 
Baldiuiii  in  the  yearc  1599,  and  slew  the  Spaniards. 
Twice  luifore,  if  not  oftner,  thc^y  had  burnt  and  spoiltMl  it, 
^'ea  liablliiia  hiniscUi',  tJK!  first  concpieror  of  Chill,  (for 
Alinwjro&UxyciX  not)  and  of  whom  thatCitie  niceiued  name, 
wiis  taken  by  these  Indians,  his  horse  beiiifj;  slaine  vnder 
hiui.  They  bid  hiui  feare  nothing,  hee  should  haue  gold 
enough:  and  making  a  great  banquet  for  him,  brought  in 
the  laslseruiee,  which  was  a  cup  full  of  molten  golil  wiiich 
they  loreed  him  to  drinke,  saying;  Koic  (/hit  lliy  fc/j'c  n-ith 
gold.  'I'his  liahliala  had  entred  Chili  with  fourc  liundred 
liorse,  and  easily  conquered  tliat  part  which  luul  hecne 
subject  to  the  Kings  of  Peru,  but  the  other,  which  was 
the  richer  part,  held  out." 

To  pnuieed  with  the  more  authentic  narrative,  Lautaro 
was  immediately  raised  to  the  higliest  subordinate  raidc  in 
the  army,  being  made  "lieutenant-general  extraordinary," 
and  the  whole  country  resounded  with  his  praise. 

When  news  of  the  fatal  ovcrthnnv  of  Valdivia  reached 
the  S[)anish  settlements,  the  inhabitants  abandoned  Vil- 
larica,  Purcn,  and  other  minor  establishments,  retreating 
for  safety  within  the  walls  of  Valdivia  and  Imperial. 
These  two  places  were  invested  by  Caupolieau  in  force, 
while  the  gallant  young  Lautaro  was  entrusted  with  tlic 
defence  of  the  mountain  piiss  by  which  succours  from  the 
North  would  probably  arrive. 

In  accordance  with  directions  left  by  Valdivia  for  the 
conduct  of  the  government  in  the  event  of  his  death,  the 
olRcc  of  governor  devolved  upon  Francis  Villagran,  Im- 
mediately upon  assuming  command,  this  officer  made 
arrangements  for  another  invasion  of  Arauco, 

lie  found  Lautaro  with  his  division  prepared  to  oppo.se 
Lis  entrance  into  the  province.     An  advanced  body  of 


Jj,  y^  '■  .  ■.i"v 


TIIK   AUAUCAMAN    UACK. 


oDl 


,y  Valdivia  for  the 

Mit  of  liis  ileatli,  the 

iicis  Villagran.     Im- 

this  officer  made 

A  raiico. 

prepared  to  oppose 

advanced  body  of 


natives  was  driven  in  by  tiic  Spaniards,  after  some  lionrs 
of  liard  iiglitinjf,  and  tlie  invadciis  pressed  n[)  tiie  nionn- 
tain  patli  to  the  spot  where  tlie  young  coniniander  was 
posted.  "This  mountain,"  says  Molina,  "which  on  sev- 
eral occasions  has  proved  fatal  to  the  Spaniards,  has  on 
its  summit  a  large  plain,  int('rs[HM'sed  with  shady  trees. 
Its  sides  are  full  of  I'lefts  and  pn^eipices,  on  the  part 
towards  the  west  the  sea  beats,  with  great  violenee,  and 
the  east  is  secured  by  impenetrable  thiekets.  A  winding 
bye-path  on  the  north  was  the  only  road  that  led  to  the 
summit  of  the  mountain." 

Villagran  had  six  pieces  of  artillery,  which  he  snceeeded 
in  bringing  to  bear,  with  elVect,  upon  the  Indians,  while 
his  musketeers  ])oured  continual  volleys  among  their  crowd- 
ed ranks.  By  the  orders  of  Lautaro,  a  select  body  of  war- 
riors charged  the  battery,  and  took  possession  of  every 
cannon.  This  decided  the  fortune  of  the  day;  the  Span- 
iards and  their  allies  were  driven  down  the  mountain  in 
hopeless  confusion,  pursued  by  the  victorious  natives.  To 
add  to  their  dilliculties,  they  fcmnd  their  retreat  cut  off  by 
a  barricade  of  logs.  Hut  a  handfid  of  the  nnnd)er  sur- 
vive<l  to  carry  the  heavy  news  to  Conception. 

The  city  was  innr\ediately  deserted,  as  incapable  of 
defence;  the  women,  ehildron,  and  old  men,  were  .sliipped 
on  board  the  vessels  in  the  harbor,  to  be  carried  to  Val- 
paraiso and  Imperial,  while  Villagran,  with  the  able-bodied 
men,  took  n[)  his  march  for  Santiago. 

The  Ai'aucanians  plundered  and  destroyed  the  aban- 
doned city  without  o^jposition.  The  hurried  departure  of 
the  Spaniards,  and  their  insufficient  ineans  of  conveyance, 
prevented  the  removal  of  much  accumulated  treasure, 
which  consequently  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Indians. 

Villagran,  as  soon  as  practicable,  .sent  reinforcements  to 
the  besieged  cities  of  Valdivia  and  Imperial,  upon  which 
Caupolican  drew  olF  his  forces,  leaving  the  Spaniards  to 


'■M 


W 


i        I 


'-iV:.: 


592 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AMERICA. 


hiy  waste  tlio  surrounding  country.  A  worse  enemy  than 
the  European  invaders,  at  tliis  time,  desolated  the  Indian 
territories:  that  terrible  disease  the  small-pox  was  coni- 
nun)icated  to  the  natives  by  some  infected  Spanish  soldiers, 
and,  as  usual  iimong  a  people  unacquainted  with  its  pecu- 
liarities, spread  far  and  wide,  producing  a  fearful  mortality. 

In  the  year  1555,  the  Court  of  the  Royal  Audience,  at 
Lima,  in  settling  various  disputed  questions  connected 
with  .Spanish  government  in  Chili,  directed  Villagran  to 
i-r-build  tlio  city  of  Conception.  A  colony  was  accordingly 
transported  thither,  and  a  strong  fort  was  erected.  This 
spot,  it  will  be  remembered,  was  to  be  northward  of  the 
Bio-bio,  and  without  the  Araucanian  territory;  but,  at  the 
re(picst  of  the  native  inhabitants,  an  army  of  about  two 
thousand  men,  under  Lautaro,  was  sent  to  annihilate  the 
growing  settlement. 

The  young  chieftain  was  a  second  time  completely  suc- 
cessful. The  Spaniards  were  slain,  or  driven  to  seek  safety 
in  their  vessels,  or  by  flight  through  the  wilderness,  and 
the  buildings  were  again  plundered  and  razed. 

Flushed  with  success,  Lautaro  now  determined,  wilh 
only  six;  hundred  warriors,  to  march  a  distance  of  some 
three  hundred  miles,  and  attack  the  town  of  Santiau'o. 
At  the  same  time,  Caupolican  again  laid  siege  to  Valdivin 
and  Imperial.  Lautaro  pursued  his  march  peaceably 
until  he  reached  Promaucia,  where  he  revenged  his  coun- 
try upon  the  treacherous  allies  of  the  Spaniards  by  ravag- 
ing and  laying  waste  the  district.  This  course  of  pi'o- 
cceding  has  been-  pronounced  grossly  impolitic,  as  by 
conciliation  and  kindness  he  might  have  secured  friends 
where  he  now  left  behind  him  implacable  enemies. 

Instead  of  making  an  instantaneous  attack  upon  the 
city,  Lautaro  deemed  it  more  prudent  to  erect  a  fort  to 
which  he  might  retreat,  and  where  he  might,  at  his  leisure, 
reconnoitre  the  enemy's  strongholds,  and  choose  his  own 


'    ;* 


;^1 


worse  enemy  tlian 
related  the  Indian 
lall-pox  was  com- 
d  Spanish  soldiers, 
ited  with  its  peeu- 
a  fearful  mortality, 
loyal  Audience,  at 
Liestions  connected 
•ected  Villagran  to 
iiy  was  accordingly 
was  erected.  This 
!  northward  of  tlic 
irritory;  but,  at  the 
army  of  ahout  two 
nt  to  annihilate  tlio 

:me  completely  suc- 
Iriven  to  seek  safety 
the  wilderness,  and 
d  ra/.ed. 

iv  determined,  with 
a  distance  of  some 
town  of  Santiago, 
lid  siege  to  Valdivia 
march   peaceably 
revenged  his  conn- 
Spaniards  by  ravag- 
iiis  course  of  pro- 
y  impolitic,  as  l)y 
ave  secured  friends 
dIc  enemies. 
IS  attack  upon  the 
it  to  erect  a  fort  to 
might,  at  his  leisure, 
and  choose  his  own 


THE  ARAUCANIAN   RACE. 


593 


time  for  assault  or  surprise.  He  therefore  posted  himself 
on  the  banks  of  the  Claro.  Repeated  attempts  were  made 
by  the  Spaniards  to  dislodge  him,  but  again  and  again 
they  were  repulsed  with  heavy  loss.  The  conduct  of 
these  sorties  were  intrusted  to  Pedro  Villagran,  son  of 
the  governor,  the  old  chief  himself  being  at  the  time  dis- 
abled by  sickness. 

Upon  his  recovery,  the  veteran  took  with  him  an  army 
of  about  two  hundred  Spaniards,  with  a  thousand  Indians, 
and  marched,  with  great  secresy  and  caution  for  Lautaro's 
camp,  lie  succeeded  in  surprising  the  enemy,  and  gained 
a  complete  victory,  '^i'he  attack  was  made  just  at  the 
dawn  of  day,  when  the  Indians  were  totally  unprepared : 
they  fought  with  their  usual  desperation,  and,  after  all 
hope  of  resistance  was  at  an  end,  sternly  refused  to  sur- 
render. "In  vain,"  says  Molina,  "the  Spanish  commander 
repeatedly  offered  them  quarter.  *  *  The  Araucaniana 
perished  to  the  last  man,  and  fought  with  such  obstinacy 
that  they  sought  for  death  by  throwing  themselves  on  the 
lances  of  their  enemies." 

Lautaro  was  slain  by  a  dart  in  the  very  first  of  the  mel<3e. 
This  was  in  1556,  and  the  brave  and  celebrated  chief  was 
consequently  but  nineteen  years  of  age.  His  death  was 
universally  lamented;  even  the  Spaniards,  while  exult- 
ing in  the  prosjjcct  of  future  safety,  opened  to  them  by  his 
death,  both  felt  and  expressed  the  most  enthusiastic  admi- 
ration for  his  noble  character  and  distinguished  talents. 
Caupolican,  hearing  of  the  melancholy  issue  of  Lautaro's 
expedition,  raised  the  siege  of  Imperial,  and  repaired  to 
the  northern  frontiers. 
38 


.  ■* '  *^!l 


/.kV, 


'K:     ,f 


/    u- 


'41 
:  ',1 : 


K'lii 


;v..     ■^ly.^, 


vr^i'' 


■  !,  ■    t. 


■  ■).■ 


m 


i^:- 


■■(■ 
I'  (, 


t 


\'A 


'•     C'..' 


594  INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

DON  GARCIA   DE    MENDOZA  ;    HIS   ESTABLISHMENT  AT  QUIRIQUINA — 

FORT  ON  MOUNT  PINTO  ATTACKED  RY  CAUPOLICAN — DON  GARCIA's 

INVASION!  oF  AHAUCO  ;  HIS  CRUELTIES — EXPEDITION  TO  CHILOE 

ARTFUL    MANAGEMENT    OF  THE    CUNCHES SEIZURE    AND 

CRUEL    DEATH   OF    CAUPOLICAN SUBSEQUENT   SUCCESSES 

OF  THE  SPANIARDS — RETKEAT  OF  THE  NATIVES  TO  THE 

MARSHES    OF    LUMACO INDIAN  VICTORY  AT    MOUNT 

MARIGUENU — GENERAL    SUMMARY    OF   SUCCEED- 
ING HOSTILITIES. 

In  the  montli  of  April,  1557,  Don  Garcia  de  Mendoza, 
upon  whom  hud  been  conferred  the  office  of'  Spanish 
viceroy  at  Chili,  arrived  at  the  harbor  of  Conception,  with 
a  large  force  of  infantry  and  abundant  rnuninicnts  of  war. 
He  first  established  himself  upon  the  island  of  Quiriquina, 
and  sent  messages  to  the  Araucanian  authorities  express- 
ing a  desire  for  the  establishment  of  a  permanent  peace. 
Caupolican,  with  the  concurrence  of  his  council,  sent  one 
Millalauco  to  confer  with  the  Spanish  commandant,  espe- 
cially charging  him  to  note  with  great  accuracy  the  num- 
bers and  resources  of  the  troo{)s.  Nothing  but  general 
expressions  of  amity  and  desire  for  trancpiillity  resulted 
from  the  conference,  and  Millalauco  returned  with  full 
reports  to  Caupolican.  The  Toqui  was  immediately  upon 
the  alert,  and  made  every  preparation  for  obtaining  instant 
information  of  the  enemy's  movements,  and  for  opposing 
any  establishment  upon  the  main  land. 

In  the  month  of  August,  Don  Garcia  landed  a  detach- 
ment in  the  night,  and  secured  the  position  of  Mount 
Pinto,  overlooking  the  plain  and  harbor.  Here  a  fort  was 
constructed,  surrounded  by  a  ditch,  and  defended  by  artil- 
lery. Only  four  days  from  the  time  of  landing,  the  Arau- 
canian chief,  with  a  large  army,  attacked  the  fort. 


\.. 


T  AT  qUIRlClUlNA — 
AN — DON  GARCIA's 
;D1T10N  to  CHILOE 
5 — SEIZURE    AND 
lENT   SUCCESSES 
VTIVES  TO  THE 
lY  AT    MOUNT 
F    SUCCEED- 


arcia  dc  Mendoza, 
office  of'  Spanisli 
Df  Conception,  with    1 
muniments  of  war.    I 
land  of  Quiriquina, 
authorities  express- 
I  permanent  peace, 
is  council,  sent  one 
commandant,  espe- 
accuracy  the  nunv 
othing  but  general 
rancpiillity  resulted 
returned  with  fviU 
s  immediately  upon 
:'or  obtaining  instant 
Its,  and  for  opposing 


[cia  landed  a  detaeh- 
position  of  Mount 
lor.  Here  a  fort  was 
1(1  defended  by  artil- 
If  landing,  the  Arau- 

Iccd  the  fort. 


THE  ARAUCANIAN  RACE. 


595 


Filling  the  ditch  with  logs  and  fascines,  the  assailants, 
in  the  face  of  a  murderous  fire,  made  desperate  efforts  to 
scale  the  walls.  Many  succeeded,  and  threw  themselves 
into  the  inclosure,  willing  to  meet  certain  destruction  that 
they  might  have  a  brief  opportunity  for  wreaking  their 
long-cherished  vengeance  upon  the  Spaniards.  Prodigies 
are  related  of  the  personal  exploits  of  Tucapel,  who  en- 
couraged this  audacity  by  his  own  example,  but  who, 
unlike  his  companions,  succeeded  in  forcing  his  way  back. 
After  killing,  as  is  said,  "four  of  his  enemies  with  his 
formidable  mace,  he  escaped  by  leaping  over  a  precipice, 
amidst  a  shower  of  balls." 

Ki'inforeements  were  sent  over  fn  i  the  island,  and 
Cau})olican  was  obliged  to  draw  off  his  forces,  leaving  his 
purpose  unaccomi)lished.  The  arrival,  shortly  after,  of  a 
great  force  of  Spanish  cavalry  and  Indian  auxiliaries,  by 
sea,  rendered  a  repetition  of  the  attempt  hopeless. 

Thus  strengthened,  Don  Garcia  soon  commenced  offen- 
sive  operations.  He  crossed  the  Bio-bio  unopposed,  and 
engaged  the  Araucanian  army,  a  short  distance  beyond. 
The  natives,  notwithstanding  every  exertion,  and  the  dis- 
play of  a  rash  valor  never  surpassed,  were  driven  off  with 
terrible  loss. 

Cruelty  and  barbarity  unlike  any  thing  before  known 
in  Chili,  now  marked  the  success  of  the  conqueror.  He 
cut  off  the  hands  of  a  prisoner  named  Galverino,  who  had 
been  a  noted  warrior,  and  sent  him  to  his  friends  as  a 
warning  of  what  was  in  store  for  them:  other  captives  he 
f-ubjected  to  cruel  tortures  in  order  to  extort  information 
as  to  their  general's  plans  and  places  of  retreat,  but  their 
fortitude  was  proof  against  all  the  suffering  he  could  inflict. 

Caupolican  soon  rallied  his  forces  for  another  battle, 
which  was  more  obstinately  contested  even  than  the  first; 
but  the  result  was  the  same — the  superiority  in  weapons, 
and  the  efficiency  of  the  cavalry  securinr;  success  to  the 


■»'■ 


'>f'*l' 


4*      ,  "■«  ( 


.".t-, 


If  .-. 


-  ff 


^;'V:.V 


:  1  ■    ; 


,  f;, ,  ..  1 


596 


INDIAN   RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


Spaniards.   The  mutilated  Galverino,  again  taken  prisoner, 
was  hanged,  with  twelve  of  the  native  Ulmcnes. 

Marching  into  the  district  of  Tucapel,  Don  Garcia  found- 
ed the  city  of  Canete  upon  the  spot  of  Valdivia's  former 
discomfiture.    A  strong  fort  was  there  built  and  garrisoned, 
and  the  command  intrusted  to  one  Alonzo  Keynoso,  after 
which  the  conqueror  returned  in  triumph  to  Imperial. 
From  this  town  he  sent  large  numbers  of  Spaniards  to  assist 
in  the  defence  and  establishment  of  the  new  city.     On  the 
route,  these  settlers  were  furiously  attacked  by  the  natives, 
but  after  suffering  some  loss  in  men  and  stores,  they  ef- 
fected an  entrance  into  the  fortification.     Caupolican  then 
set  himself  systematically  to  reduce  the  place.     In  the 
attempt  to  secure  an  advantage  by  the  introduction  of  a 
K})y  within  the  walls,  he  was  himself  com])letely  over- 
I'oachcd  by  the  cunning  of  one  of  the  Indian  allies  of  the 
Spaniards.     This  man,  discovering  the  errand  of  tlic  spy, 
secured  his  confidence  by  pretending  hatred  ngaiiist  the 
invaders,  and  by  promising  his  aid  in  admitting  the  be- 
siegers within  the  walls.     Caupolican  was  regularly  en- 
trapped: a  gate  was  left  open  to  give  opportunity  for  an 
entrance  into  the  fort,  but  when  such  a  number  had  en- 
tered as  could  safely  be  mastered,  the  passage  was  closed, 
and  by  a  sudden  and  unex])ectcd  attack,  those  within  the 
walls  were  cut  to  pieces,  and  those  without  completely 
routed.     Caupolican  escaped  to  the  mountains,  but  three 
of  his  oflicers  were  taken  prisoners,  and  blown  from  the 
muzzles  of  cannon. 

The  years  1558  and  1559  were  memorable  among  the 
Spanish  settlers  of  Chili,  for  the  expedition  of  Don  Garcia 
to  the  archipelago  of  Chiloe.  By  an  artful  policy,  ado])t- 
ed  in  accordance  with  the  advice  of  an  Araucanian,  the 
Cunches  averted  the  usual  terrors  of  European  invasion. 
They  pretended  extreme  poverty,  sending  to  the  general  a 
present  of  "roasted  lizards  and  wild  fruits,"  and  carefull}/ 


taken  prisoner, 
nenes. 

)n  Garcia  found- 
aldivia's  former 
.  and  garrisoned, 
)  lleyuoso,  after 
ph  to  Imperial, 
paniards  to  assist 
ew  city.     On  the 
<d  by  tlic  natives,  ^ 
d  stores,  they  ef- 
Caupolican  then 
3  place.     In  the 
introduction  of  a 
completely  ovcr- 
idian  allies  of  the 
jrrand  of  the  spy, 
latrcd  against  the    \[ 
admitting  the  he-    i; 
was  regularly  en-    l' 
•pportiuiity  for  an    \ 
number  had  en-    i 
|assage  was  closed,    | 
,  those  within  the    ; 
ithout  completely 
luntains,  but  three 
xl  blown  from  the 

lorable  among  the 
lion  of  Don  Garcia 
rtful  policy,  adopt- 
Ixn  Araucanian,  the 
furopean  invasion, 
ig  to  the  general  a 
lits,"  and  careful!}/ 


THE  ARAUCANIAN  RACE. 


597 


rJ 


concealing  every  sign  of  wealth,  particularly  in  the  precious 
metals.  A  guide  furnished  by  them  to  the  Spaniards  was 
instructed  to  lead  tlie  army  southward  by  the  most  deso- 
late and  dangerous  routes,  the  more  elt'ectually  to  discour- 
age any  plans  of  settlement  and  colonization. 

Arriving,  at  last,  al'ter  unheard-of  toil  and  privation,  at 
tlic  beautiful  archipelago,  the  Sjianiards  were  kindly  and 
generously  entertained  by  the  natives.  On  his  return, 
through  the  level  country  of  the  Uuilliches,  Don  Garcia 
founded  the  city  of  Orsino. 

It  was  during  this  absence  of  the  viceroy  that  the  brave 
Caupolican  fell  into  the  hands  of  his  enemies.  Alonzo 
lieynoso  extorted,  by  torture  of  a  prisoner,  the  disclosure 
of  his  place  of  retreat,  and  sent  a  corps  of  mounted  m.en  to 
surprise  him.  By  order  of  the  cruel  commandant,  this 
brave  and  venerated  ruler  was  impaled,  and  in  that  posi- 
tion dispatched  with  arrows. 

The  office  of  Toqui  was  conferred  upon  a  son  of  the 
old  chief,  Caupolican  the  3^ounger,  and  the  redoubted 
Tuca})el  was  niadc  second  in  command.  An  army  of 
Araucanians,  letl  by  the  new  commander,  was  immediatel}'' 
upon  the  march  for  the  city  of  Conception.  Alonzo  Key- 
noso  followed,  with  five  hundred  men,  to  attack  this  body 
in  the  rear;  but  was  signally  defeated  in  an  engagement 
north  of  the  river  Bio-bio,  which  he  hardly  succeeded  in 
rC'crossing  with  a  remnant  of  his  followers.  Instead  of 
following  out  his  original  design  against  Conception,  young 
Caupolican  transferred  his  forces  to  Imperial,  where  Don 
Garcia  had  fortified  himself.  He  was  unable  to  take  the 
city,  altliough  he  besieged  it  closely  for  a  long  time,  mak- 
ing many  furious  and  desperate  attacks.  The  Sj^aniards 
were  strengthened  by  constant  arrivals  of  military  adven- 
turers from  Spain  and  Peru,  and  as  their  defences  were 
good,  their  loss  in  these  engagements  was  small,  as  com- 
pared with  that  of  the  Indian  besiegers.     An  attempt  to 


r    II 


'  '  I  -V 


'.'M":. 


i 


m-r: 


,i.  -'I 


,;r 


i- 


■■■•''I 


I'll 


598 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


rouse  a  rebellion  among  the  Indian  alies  at  the  Spanish 
camp,  was  discovered,  and  all  concerned  were  put  to  death. 
Two  of  the  emissaries  of  the  Toqui  were  "  impaled  in  the 
sight  of  the  Araucanian  army,  to  whom  they  recommended 
with  their  last  breath  to  die  in  defence  of  the  liberties  of 
their  country.  One  hundred  and  twenty  of  the  auxiliaries 
were  also  hung  on  the  ramparts,  exhorting  the  others  to 
favor  the  enterprise  of  their  countrymen." 

Caupolican  withdrew  from  the  city,  and  established 
himself  at  a  place  called  Quipeo,  between  Conception  and 
the  fortress  of  Canete,  the  nature  of  which  was  such  that 
it  could  easily  be  defended.  Here  he  stoutly  resisted  all 
ellbrts  to  dislodge  him  for  a  long  time ;  but  was  finally 
worsted  in  an  incautious  sally.  His  army  was  mostly 
destroyed ;  Tucapel,  Colocolo,  Lincoyan,  and  others  of  his 
bravest  officers,  had  fallen ;  and,  seeing  escape  impossible, 
the  young  chief  put  an  end  to  his  own  life. 

Every  thing  now  seemed  to  favor  the  Spaniards:  they 
little  thought  that  after  such  a  reverse,  and  the  experience 
of  the  misery  and  horrors  of  a  long  and  bloody  war,  the 
natives  would  again  make  head  against  them.  The  inter- 
val of  peace  was  occupied  in  restoring  the  old  fortifications 
and  settlements,  and  in  the  establishment  of  new  posts. 
It  was  at  this  time  that  the  city  of  Mendoza,  east  of  the 
Andes,  was  founded. 

Nearly  all  the  Araucanian  officers,  and  a  large  propor- 
tion of  the  young  men  of  the  tribe,  had  perished  in  the 
last  disastrous  campaigns,  but  the  indomitable  spirit  of  the 
nation  survived.  A  brave  chief,  named  Antiguenu,  was 
chosen  Toqui,  and  the  shattered  forces  of  the  nation  were 
assembled  in  the  gloomy  and  almost  impenetrable  marshes 
of  Lumaco.  Here  Antiguenu  "caused  high  scaffoldings 
to  be  erected  to  secure  his  men  from  the  extreme  moisture," 
and  devoted  himself  to  training  and  instrjicting  such  new 
recruits  as  could  be  collected. 


•\^ 


THE  ARAUCANIAN   RACE. 


599 


53  at  the  Spanish 
rcrc  put  to  death, 
"impaled  in  the 
icy  recommended 
f  the  Ubcrties  of 
of  the  auxiliaries 
ing  the  others  to 
1) 

and  established 
;n  Conception  and 
lich  was  sucli  that  i 
stoutly  resisted  all 
le;  but  was  Imally 
army  was  mostly 
1,  and  others  of  his 

escape  impossible, 

life. 

lie  Spaniards:  they 
and  the  experience 
id  bloody  war,  the 
t  them.  The  inter- 
he  old  fortifications 
nent  of  new  posts. 
;cndoza,  east  of  the 

uid  a  large  propor- 
ad  perished  in  the 
mitable  spirit  of  the 
.ed  Antigucnu,  was 
of  the  nation  were 
ipenetrable  marshes 
d  high  scaffoldings 
extreme  moisture," 
istructing  such  new 


Don  Garcia  had,  in  the  mean  time,  been  superseded  in 
his  office  of  Spanish  viceroy,  by  the  former  incumbent, 
Francis  Villagran;  who,  hearing  of  the  late  defeat  of  the 
natives,  supposed  that  he  now  occupied  an  easy  and  secure 
position.  He  was  nndeceived  by  the  intelligence  that  the 
new  Toqiii  was  beginning  to  give  his  army  some  practical 
lessons  in  the  art  of  war  by  various  predatory  visits  to  the 
Spanish  settlements. 

Tlie  first  serious  engagement,  in  this  campaign,  took 
place  at  the  summit  of  Mount  Mariguenu,  the  scene  of 
former  disaster  to  the  Spaniards.  Antiguenu,  familiar 
with  the  advantages  of  the  locality,  was  posted  at  this 
spot,  and  Villagran  sent  one  of  his  sons,  with  the  most 
efficient  force  at  his  disposal,  to  attack  the  enemy  in  their 
quarters.  The  result  of  the  attempt  was  as  fatal  as  upon 
former  occasions:  the  leader  of  the  assailants  was  slain, 
and  nearly  the  entire  Spanish  army  destroyed.  The  To- 
qui  followed  up  his  advantage  by  the  seizure  and  destruc- 
tion of  the  fortress  at  Canete. 

About  this  time  Pedro  Villagran,  by  the  death  of  Francis, 
liis  father,  succeeded  to  the  office  of  governor.  Antiguenu 
had  now  at  his  disposal  an  army  of  not  far  from  four  thou- 
sand men,  and  felt  sufficiently  .strong  to  divide  his  forces, 
and  make  a  simultaneous  attack  upon  the  city  of  Concep- 
tion and  the  fortress  at  Arauco. 

The  city  resisted  all  the  attempts  of  the  natives,  although 
close  siege  was  laid  to  it  for  two  months;  but  the  detach- 
ment led  into  Arauco  by  Antiguenu  in  person  was  more 
successful.  The  commandant,  Lorenzo  Bernal,  defended 
his  post  with  great  bravery,  holding  out  against  all  the  as- 
saults of  the  enemy  until  reduced  by  famine  to  evacuate  the 
fort.  The  Spaniards  were  not  disturbed  in  their  retreat,  the 
business  of  destroying  the  buildings  and  fortifications,  so 
long  a  harbor  for  the  enemy  in  the  heart  of  their  own 
country,  fully  occupying  the  attention  of  the  Araucanians. 


.'  ■•■* 


t.  v. 


■Ill  '  ■ 


>■„  ^^ 


■*.'■ 


Hi 

it; 


m 


■■  lr\-i 


600 


INDIAN  UACEd  OV  AMKIIICA. 


Several  iuteresting  incidents  are  recorded  connected  with 
tliis  siege:  ujjon  one  occasion,  Antigucnu  cludlenged  tlic 
S])ani8li  conunandiiMt  to  a  private  personal  encounter,  and 
the  duel  was  accordingly  fought  in  sight  of  both  aruiics. 
"  The  battle  between  these  two  champions,"  says  the  histori- 
an, "was  continued  for  t\V(i  hours  without  cither  obtaininir 
any  advantage,  or  injuring  tlie  other,  till  they  were  at 
length  separated  by  their  men."  Such  trials  of  strength 
and  skill  between  renowned  warriors  of  either  party  were 
not  uncommon  during  the  protracted  wars  of  Chili. 

Not  long  after  the  reduction  of  Cancte  and  the  fort  at 
Arauco,  a  general  engagement  took  place  between  the  In- 
dians and  Sj)aniards  at  the  junction  of  the  Vcrgosa  and 
llio-bio,  in  which  the  former  were  totally  routed.  Anti- 
guenu  with  many  of  his  followers  fell,  or  was  forced,  from 
a  steep  bank  into  the  stream,  and  there  perished.  A  ter- 
rible havoc  was  connnited  among  the  discomfitted  army, 
not,  however,  without  great  loss  to  the  victors,  and  the 
Araucanian  power  seemed,  a  second  time,  to  be  elfectually 
crushed.     This  was  in  the  year  1564. 

The  sagacious  and  prudent  Paillataru,  a  relative  of  the 
lamented  Lautaro,  was  the  next  Toqui,  and,  like  his  pre- 
decessor, he  set  himself,  at  first,  to  recruit  his  forces  and 
repair  the  disas+ers  of  war.  For  years  he  hazarded  no 
open  battle  with  the  whites,  but  inured  his  warriors  to  ser- 
vice by  flying  incursions. 

In  1505  a  new  Spanish  viceroy,  Rodrigo  de  Quiroga, 
restored  the  posts  at  Canete  and  Arauco,  and  built  a  new 
fort  at  C^uipeo.  With  little  opposition,  he  laid  waste  those 
portions  of  the  Araucanian  territory  that  were  within  his 
reach,  and  dispatched  a  body  of  troops  to  the  southward, 
to  bring  into  subjection  the  islands  of  the  Chiloan  archi- 
pelago. The  mild  and  gentle  inhabitants  of  that  grou])0 
submitted  without  an  effort  to  the  dictation  of  the  Span- 
iards, offering  no  resistance  to  the  burdens  of  personal 


dJ 


A. 

Oil  connected  with 
nu  clnillenged  tlic 
lal  encounter,  and 
it  of  botli  uru:-cs. 
s,"  says  the  Uistori- 
ut  cither  obtaining 

till  tlicy  were  at 
I  trials  of  strength 
r  either  party  were 
mrs  of  Chili, 
icte  and  the  fort  at 
ICO  between  the  lu- 
3f  the  Vergosa  and 
ally  routed.     Anti- 
or  wius  forced,  from 
•e  perished.     A  tcr- 

diricoinfitted  army, 
the  victors,  and  the 
:ue,  to  be  effectually 


•u,  a  relative  of  the   | 
1,  and,  like  his  pre-   \ 
jruit  his  forces  and 
irs  ho  ha/.ardcd  n(j 
his  warriors  to  ser- 

:odrigo  do  Quiroga, 
CO,  and  built  a  new 
he  laid  waste  those 
.hat  were  within  his 
,s  to  the  southward, 
f  the  Chiloau  archi- 
;ants  of  that  groupo 
itatiou  of  the  Spau- 
lurdcns  of  personal 


THE  AUAUCANIAN   RACE. 


601 


service,  &;c.,  ini})oscd  ujion  them  by  their  new  masters.  In 
aftoi'-timos  tiiey  proved  equally  ti-actablc  in  adopting  the 
religion  of  their  coiupierors. 

For  thirty  years  from  the  installation  of  Paillataru, 
bloody  and  desolating  wars  were,  at  intervals,  waged  be- 
tween the  Spaniards  and  Araucanians.  The  former,  from 
the  steady  increase  of  their  numbers,  acquired  a  stronger 
foothold  in  the  country,  and  the  result  of  hostilities  was 
generally  in  their  favor.  Occasionally  some  teri'iblc  reverse 
would  serve  to  remind  them  that  the  enemy  was  not  yet 
conquered,  but  that  the  old  s[)irit  still  burned  with  undi- 
minished energy.  The  Araucanians  acquired  the  use  of 
horses,  thereby  gaining  great  facilities  for  Hying  incursions. 
To  a  certain  extent  they  had,  moreover,  learned  to  avail 
themselves  of  such  lire-arms  as  were  secured  in  battle. 

Paillataru  deicated  the  Spaniards  yet  again  \\\Km  Mount 
^lariguenu,  and,  as  well  as  liis  successor,  the  mustee  or 
half-breed  Paynenancu,  proved  a  thorn  in  the  sides  of  the 
colonists.  The  IHrnan  of  Marigucnu,  Cayancaru,  was  made 
T()([ui  in  1585,  after  the  seizure  and  execution  of  Payne- 
nancu. This  ruler,  disappointed  in  various  bold  but, 
unsuccessful  campaigns,  resigned  ofhce  in  favor  of  his  son 
Nangoniel,  who  was  soon  after  slain  in  battle.  A  noted 
warrior,  named  Cadcguala,  succeeded  him. 

The  new  Toqui,  after  various  other  warlike  operations, 
laid  siege  to  the  Spanish  fort  at  Puren.  Becoming  weary 
of  delay,  his  chivalrous  spirit  led  him  to  challenge  the 
commandant,  Garcia  Hamon,  to  single  combat,  thereby  to 
decide  the  fate  of  the  fortress.  The  two  leaders  accord- 
ingly fought  on  horseback,  with  lances,  and  Cadeguala  fell 
translixed  by  his  adversary's  weapon  at  the  first  tilt. 

Guanoalca,  the  next  in  authority,  continued  to  wage 
war  with  the  Spaniards,  and  gained  many  advantages. 
lie  reduced  and  took  possession  of  the  fortresses  at  Puren, 
Trinidad,  and  Spirito  Santo.     During  this  administration, 


^ 


■'  '  t  • 


■■  / 1' 


\.'\-., 


:  it's 


V  » 


I,,"')  ■ 

■  :.-  f  ■ .  ■ ,  -. 

'■  ■■■1.;   . 

'  •    J 

■■!'    \     : 

t     ■  > , 

■    i 

'  ";• 

f\:, 

[-i,k'; 

602 


INDIAN    HACKS  OF  AMKKICA. 


nourished  u  cclcbratcMl  Ibnuilo  warrior,  iiatned  Jano([iU'o, 
who  in  1590,  with  a  hordo  of  the  wild  and  roving  I'uolcho.s 
of  the  eastern  districts,  harassed  the  8])anish  settlements. 

The  young  chief  Quintuguenu,  succeeded  Guanoalca, 
uj)on  the  death  of  that  Toi^ui  in  1591,  and  although  a 
brave  and  noble  warrior,  was  doomed  to  defeat  and  death 
at  the  spot  most  famous  for  his  countrymen's  victories. 
He  fell  on  the  liciglits  of  Mariguenu,  where  liis  army  was 
destroyed  or  disj)crsed.  One  Paillaeco  was  elected  in  his 
place,  but  with  reduced  forces  he  could  elfcct  little  against 
the  S|)aniards,  encouraged  as  they  were  by  recent  success. 
The  old  forts  and  posts  destroyed  under  the  sway  of  pre- 
ceding rulers  were  rebuilt  and  fortilied  in  the  years  1591 
and  1592, 


CHAPTER  V. 

VICEUOYALTY   OF   MARTIN    LOYOLA — PAILLAMACHU — RENEWAL   OF 

THE   WAR — LOYOLA  SLAIN — GENERAL   INSURRECTION  OF  THE 

NATIVES — THE  SPANIARDS    DRIVEN    FROM   THE    COUNTRY 

SOUTH    OF    THE    BIO-BIO BLOODY   CAMPAIGNS    UNDER 

SEVERAL  SUCCESSIVE  TOQUIS PEACE  OF  1640 TEN 

years'  war SUBSEQUENT  TREATIES  AND  HOSTILI- 

TIES — PRESENT  POSITION  OF  THE  ARAUCANIANS. 

In  1593  Don  Martin  Loyola,  nepliew  of  Ignatius,  the 
originator  of  the  order  of  Jesuits,  arrived  at  Chili,  invested 
with  the  office  of  governor  under  the  Spanish  monarchy. 
During  the  period  of  liis  authority  arose  the  renowned 
Paillaraachu,  next  in  regular  succession  to  Paillaeco.  He 
was  an  old  mau,  but  endowed  with  singular  energy  and 
activity.  For  two  years  he  kept  aloof,  recruiting  and  dis.- 
ciplining  his  forces  at  the  old  retreat  among  the  Lumacan 


acA. 

r,  named  Janc(inoo, 

pauisli  scltlcments. 
ccccdcd  GutuioaU'ii, 
Jl,  and  although  a 

to  defeat  and  death 
ntrymen's  victories. 

where  his  army  was 
;o  was  elected  in  his 
d  ellcct  little  against 
re  by  recent  success, 
der  the  sway  of  pre- 
3d  in  the  years  151)1 


AMACHir — RENEWAL   OF 
NSURRECTION  OF  THE 
ROM   THE    COUNTRY 
AMPAIGNS   UNDER 
E  OF  1640 — TEN 
ESANDHOSTILI- 
ARAUCANIANS. 

lew  of  Ignatius,  the 
ved  at  Chili,  invested 
e  Spanish  monarchy. 

arose  the  renowned 
ion  to  Paillaeco.     lie 

singular  energy  and 
of,  recruiting  and  dis.- 

among  the  Lumacan 


TUE  AKAUOANIAN  KACE. 


003 


tnorassea,  while  the  Spaniards  had  opportunity,  unmolest- 
ed, to  restore  their  ruined  (Mties,  to  work  the  rich  mines 
of  tlie  mountains,  and  to  strengthen  their  positions  as  they 
would.  The  To(pii,  by  an  ambas-sador,  gave  Loyola  dis- 
tinetly  to  understand  that  he  and  his  followers  were,  as 
iirndy  as  their  forefathers,  determined  never  to  be  brought 
into  subjection. 

I'aillamachu's  lirst  attempt  against  his  enemies  was  by 
.sending  a  detachment  (in  1595)  to  destroy  a  fortification 
erected  by  Loyola  at  the  southward  of  the  Bio-bio.  From 
this  time  he  continued  to  attack  and  plunder  the  S})anish 
settlements  wherever  opj)ortunity  olVered,  avoiding  general 
engagements,  and  rctieating  with  his  booty  to  -is  inacces- 
sible fastnesses.  On  the  night  of  November  22d.  151)8, 
he  succeeded  in  surprising  and  slaying  the  Spanish  gov- 
ernor, at  his  encampment  (with  a  slender  retinue)  in  the 
vale  of  Caralva.  "It  would  seem,"  (by  Molina's  account) 
"  that  the  Araucanian  general  had  formed  confident  hopes 
of  the  success  of  this  bold  enterprise,  since,  in  consequcneo 
of  his  previous  instructions,  in  less  than  forty-eight  hours 
after  this  event,  not  only  the  Araucanian  provinces,  but 
those  of  the  Cunches  and  Iluilliches,  were  in  arms,  and 
the  whole  of  the  country  to  the  archipelago  of  Chiloe." 

The  native  armies  met  with  unprecedented  success; 
town  after  town  fell  before  them,  reduced  by  siege  or  car- 
ried by  storm.  Conception,  Chilian,  Canctc,  the  Araucan 
fort,  Valdivia,  and  other  settlements,  were  destroyed,  and 
the  inhabitants  slain,  driven  off,  or  carried  away  captives. 
Villarica,  Osorno,  and  Imperial  were  conquered,  in  1602, 
after  protracted  siege,  in  which  the  miserable  citizens  suf- 
fered every  extremity  from  famine  and  terror.  "Thus,  in 
a  p-^riod  of  little  more  than  three  years,  were  destroyed  all 
the  settlements  which  Valdivia  and  his  successors  had 
established  and  preserved,  at  the  expense  of  so  much  blood, 
in  the  extensive  country  between  the  Bio-bio  and  the 


.a^ 


,JU 


,f.:.' 


t  <    -): 


t-  ,',  '  i'     rl 


«v. 


'.•i^y-'^^L 


604 


INDIAN  RACKS  OF  AMKHICA. 


arcliil»('l:t^'o  of  (Jliiloo,  iioiio  of  wliicli  have  Ihtii  hIiico 
rOhiiilt,  iiM  wliat  ia  at  j)rcsiMit  called  V'aldivia  is  no  more 
tliati  a  fort  or  garrison." — {iUoliuri'a  Gioil  History  of  C/tili; 
Avrittcn  about  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century.) 

(ireat  numbers  of  Spanish  ])risoncrs  wore  carried  homo 
by  the  Indians,  and  cxju'ricnccd  great  diversity  of  treat- 
ment. Many  intermarried  with  the  natives,  giving  origin 
to  a  race  of  lialf-breeds,  who  proved  as  inimical  towards 
the  Spaniards  as  their  dusky  ancestors. 

The  brave  and  sagacious  Paillamachu  died  in  IGO.S. 
l?(^[)eat(!d,  but  futile  attcmi)ts  were  made  by  the  Spaniards 
for  s(!Voral  yc^ars  ensuing,  to  recover  their  lost  teri'itory 
south  of  the  P.io-bio.  The  Indians,  fortunate  in  having 
brave  and  sagacious  rulers,  and  with  all  their  ancient 
pride  and  patriotic  enthusiasm  fully  aroused,  .successfully 
resi.sted  every  invasion.  About  the  year  IG12,  a  move- 
ment was  made  by  a  Jesuit,  named  Louis  Valdivia,  to  ))ut 
an  end  to  this  hopeless  warfare,  that  an  opening  uiiglit  Ih' 
made  for  the  spread  of  the  Christian  religion  among  the 
independent  tribes.  The  Spani.sh  monarch,  I'hilip  tli(! 
'^I'hird,  highly  apjiroved  of  the  plan,  and  proposals  were 
forwarded  to  the  Toqui  and  his  council,  by  means  of  cer- 
tain liberated  prisoners. 

While  the  treaty  of  peace  was  under  negotiation,  and 
flattering  prospects  of  quiet  appeared  to  the  settlers,  an 
event  occurred  which  put  a  s{)cedy  end  to  all  })caccful 
intercourse.  Ancanamon,  the  Toqui,  had  a  Spanish  w^o- 
man  as  one  of  his  wives,  who  made  her  escape  from  his 
power,  and  sought  protection  from  the  Spanish  viceroy. 
Two  other  wives  of  the  Toqui,  and  two  of  his  daughters, 
won  over  by  her  persuasions  to  embrace  her  religion, 
accompanied  her  in  her  flight. 

The  Spaniards  refused  to  deliver  up  these  refugees,  with 
the  exception  of  one  who  had  not  profes.scd  Christianity, 
and  Ancanamon,  enraged  at  the  supposed  injury,  slew  a 


Jj 


:•'     i- 


li  have  l)Ocn  s'nico 

'aldiviii  i«  "<>  '»•>'"« 
rll  lllslnrijof  Cliili; 

ith  century.) 
J,  wore  ciirricd  home 
it  diversity  of  treat- 
iitivos,  giving  origin 
as  inimical  towards 

s. 

laclm  died  in  10O3. 
idc  by  the  Spaniards 
p  their  lost  territory 

fortunate  in  having 
itli  all  tlu'ir  ancient 
aroused,  sueeessfully 

year  1612,  a  n\ove- 

,ouis  Valdivia,  to  jjut 

|an  opening  might  he 

religion  amcjug  the 

monarch,  Pliilip  tlic 
and  proposals  wen; 

cil,  by  moans  of  ccr- 


der  negotiation,  and 
d  tt)  the  settlers,  an 
end  to  all  peaceful 
i,  had  a  Spanish  wo- 
licr  escape  from  his 
the  Spanish  vicen^y. 
wo  of  his  daughters, 
nbrace  her   religion, 

these  refugees,  with 
Irofesscd  Christianity, 
pposed  injury,  slew  a 


TIIK  AUAUCANIAN  RACE. 


0(15 


iiumbor  of  missionaries  who  had  been  conducted  into  his 
(lotninions,  and  witli  renewed  energy  continued  the  j)ros- 
cent  ion  of  the  war. 

About  the  year  IBIS,  a  most  fierce  and  dangerous 
enemy  of  the  Spaniards  had  tlu^  dictatorsliip  of  the  Aran- 
ciMiiun  tribes.  'JMiis  was  the  eelebrateil  To(iui  J^ientur. 
A  chain  of  military  posts  and  strong  fortifications  had 
b(>en  erected  l)y  the  Spanish  authorities  upon  the  l?io-bio, 
to  prevent  Indian  in(!ursions,  but  they  availed  nothing 
against  the  rapid  and  energetic  movements  of  the  native 
commander.  Until  his  resignation,  in  102"),  he  not  only 
presi'rved  his  own  country  from  Spanisli  oeeuj)ati()n,  but 
made  continual  inroads  into  the  enemy's  territory,  ]ilnii- 
dering  their  villages  and  destroying  the  forces  brought  to 
oppose  him.  In  his  v(>ry  first  expedition,  he  is  said  to  have 
seixed  and  carried  olf  no  less  than  four  hundred  hnrs(>s. 

liis  successor,  the  young  warrior  I'utajiiehion,  Avho  had 
been  f()rmerly  a  slave  among  tlie  whites,  proved  a  no  less 
formidable  adversary.  He  continued  in  authority  until 
slain  in  battle  about  eight  years  from  the  time  of  his  acces- 
sion; a  period  marked  by  many  extensive  and  bloody 
campaigns,  in  which  the  Spaniards,  although  more  success- 
ful than  during  former  administrations,  could  obtain  no 
permanent  footing  upon  Araucanian  soil.  At  the  last 
grand  .engagement,  which,  in  consequence  of  his  death, 
resulted  favorably  for  the  Spaniards,  the  manner  in  which 
this  chief  marshaled  and  brought  his  forces  to  action  ex- 
cited the  admiration  of  his  enemies. 

The  obstinacy  with  whicli  these  wars  were  carried  on 
during  a  period  of  little  less  than  a  century,  until  the  peace 
concluded  in  ICAO,  is  almost  without  parallel.  The  history 
of  the  times  does  not  record  a  series  of  petty  skirmishes, 
but  a  succession  of  desperate  campaigns,  in  which  the  known 
valor  and  obstinacy  of  the  Spaniard  were  no  less  consj)icu- 
ous  than  the  utter  carelessness  of  life  and  enthusiastic  self- 


r  '  •• 


wri: 


V:\ii 


I  li;  : 


■)    v 


I'v'.' 


'■4.  ,'  ■    jy 


606 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


devotion  of  the  Indian.  The  success  of  cither  party  would, 
from  time  to  time,  seem  to  threaten  the  utter  extermination 
of  their  rivals,  but  defeat  only  compelled  a  retreat,  on  the 
one  hand  within  the  fortified  towns,  and  on  the  other  into 
the  impenetrable  wilderness,  until  new  forces  could  be 
raised  and  new  plans  of  assault  concocted. 

In  the  year  last  mentioned  the  Marquis  of  Baydes,  Fron- 
cisco  Zuiiiga,  came  out  to  Chili  as  governor,  and  exerted 
himself  successfully  to  obtain  an  interview  with  the  Toqui 
Jiincopichion,  and  to  conclude  terms  for  a  lasting  peace. 

An  immense  concourse  of  both  races  attended  at  the 
time  and  jilace  appointed  for  the  solemn  ratidcation  of  the 
treaty,  and  days  were  passed  in  feats  and  congratulatory 
ceremonials.  Prisonei'S  were  exchanged,  trade  was  estab- 
lished, and  free  scope  was  given  to  the  exertions  of  tlio 
dev-  ut  ecclesiastics  who  assumed  the  duty  of  converting 
the  Indians.  These  missionaries  were  well  and  respect- 
fully treated,  but  met  with  no  marked  success  in  the  propa- 
gatior.  of  their  doctrines. 

The  peace  lasted  until  about  lOui),  when  it  was  siicceeded 
by  a  ten  years'  war,  the  particulars  of  whicli  are  only 
recorded  in  the  most  general  terms.  It  is  certain  that 
during  this  season  of  hostility  the  Spanish  colonists  mot 
with  such  terrible  hisses,  and  were,  upon  many  occasions, 
so  signally  defeated  by  the  Araucanians,  that  the  preser- 
vation of  a  true  history  of  events  would  be  little  flattering 
to  their  national  jiride. 

A  new  treaty  was  brought  about  in  1665,  b}'  the  gov- 
ernor, Francisco  Mcneses,  and  the  country  was  compara- 
tively at  rest  for  more  than  half  a  century.  The  Spaniards 
began  to  settle  in  the  Araucanian  territory,  and,  in  conse- 
quence of  their  natui'ally  overbearing  dis[)osition,  became 
objects  of  dislike  and  suspicion  to  the  native  inhabitants. 
Certain  Spanish  officials,  denominated  the  "Ca})tains  of  the 
Friends,"  whose  nominal  duty  was  the  protection  of  tlic 


;  ti' 


■*^'y 


:3A. 

nther  party  would, 
ittcr  extermination 
;d  a  retreat,  on  the 
i  on  the  other  into 
w  forces  could  be 
;cd. 

lis  of  Baydes,  Fran- 
ernor,  and  exerted 
iew  with  the  Toqui 
,r  a  lasting  peace. 
L'es  attended  at  the 
m  ratification  of  the 
and  congratulatory 
;ed,  trade  was  estab- 
the  exertions  of  the 
!  duty  ol'  converting 
re  well  and  respect- 
success  in  the  propa- 


hen  it  was  succeeded 
of  which  are  only 
It  is  certain  that 
lanish  colonists  met 
ion  many  occasions, 
ms,  that  the  prescr- 
Id  be  little  flattering 


|n  1G(35,  by  the  gov- 
)untry  Avas  compara- 
|ury.  The  Spaniards 
ritory,  and,  in  consc- 
disposition,  bccnnie 
native  inhabitants. 
I  the  "Captains  of  the 
[le  protection  of  the 


THE  AUAUCANIAN   KACES. 


607 


missionaries,  but  who  assumed  unwarranted  powers,  were 
especially  odious. 

In  1722  the  discontent  of  the  Indians  led  them  to  a 
renewal  of  hostilities.  They  appointed  one  Vilhunilla,  a 
bold  and  ambitious  man,  to  the  office  of  Toqui.  This 
chief  exerted  himself  to  rouse  up  an  insurrection  through- 
out Chili,  but,  failing  in  this,  with  undiminished  resolution, 
he  colk'ctt!d  what  forces  could  be  mustered,  and  fell  upon 
the  Spanish  settlements.  He  met  with  no  little  success, 
gaining  possession  of  the  fortresses  of  Tucapel,  Arauco, 
and  Puren.  In  the  words  of  the  historian.  The  war 
afterwards  became  reduced  to  skirmishes  of  but  little  im- 
portance, which  were  finally  terminated  by  the  celebrated 
peace  of  Negrete,  a  place  situated  at  the  confluence  of  the 
rivers  Bio-bio  and  Lara."  The  more  important  grievances 
complained  of  by  the  natives  were  redressed  at  the  settle- 
ment of  the  terms  of  treaty. 

Further  difficulties  arose  under  the  administration  of 
Don  Antonio  Conzaga,  in  consequence  of  an  absurd  and 
futile  attempt  by  that  cllicer  to  induce  or  compel  the 
Araueanians  to  build  and  inhaljit  cities  in  certain  pre- 
scribed localities.  A  war  ensued  in  which  some  bloody 
battles  wc'^  fought,  and  in  which  the  roving  Pehuenches 
were  invived,  i.r-t  in  behalf  of  the  Spaniards,  but  after- 
wards as  ij  ai  adii  i  of  their  own  countrymen.  Peace  was 
concludc'i  .-  17""o;  and  among  the  articles  of  sti])ulation, 
it  was  aL!;ixcd  lUat  a  native  minister  should  be  stationed  at 
St.  Jago  to  keep  watch  over  his  nation's  interests. 

This  pacification  produced  the  happiest  results.  Pelieved 
from  the  danger  of  hostile  hicursions,  the  Sj)anish  settle- 
ments north  of  that  natural  boundary,  the  Bio-bio,  in- 
creased and  pros})ertd,  while  the  free  tribes  at  the  south 
were  left  to  the  exercise  of  their  own  system  of  government 
and  the  enjoyment  of  their  well-earned  liberty. 

The  proud   distinction  of  being  the   only  aboriginal 


»    v  - 


608 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AMKRICA. 


AmcM'ieaiis  -who  have  maintfiinod  their  independence  when 
brought  directly  in  contact  witli  Europeans,  still  belongs 
to  the  ^\rancanians.  They  occupy  much  of  their  old 
territory  within  the  modern  republic  of  Chili,  a  district 
set  down  as  covering  an  area  of  twenty-eight  thousand 
square  iviiles. 

It  may  well  be  doubted  whether  the  world  has  ever 
pi'oduced  a  race  of  men,  who,  with  no  greater  advantages, 
from  nuinbcrs,  and  advancement  in  the  arts,  have  accom- 
plished military  exploits  worthy  to  be  compared  with 
those  recorded  in  Araucaniau  history.  The  dill'ercnt  aims 
and  purposes  of  the  contending  parties  throughout  the  long 
and  terrible  contest  with  the  colonists,  enlist  our  warmest 
sympathies  with  the  natives.  On  the  one  band,  the  insa- 
tiable thirst  for  gold,  the  pride  of  conquest,  or  the  scarcely 
less  detestable  spirit  of  intolerant  bigotry,  were  the  ruling 
motives — and  how  powerful  they  have  i)roved,  let  the  his- 
tory of  Spanish  America  portray — while,  on  the  other,  the 
whole  end  and  aim  of  the  rightful  owners  of  the  soil,  in- 
dividually and  collectively,  seem  to  have  been  directed 
with  unllinching  self-devotion  towards  the  one  object  of 
the  preservation  of  liberty  and  independence. 

The  jn'incipal  benefit  derived  by  the  modern  Aruueani- 
ans  from  intercourse  with  foreigners  is  in  the  introduction 
of  horses  and  cattle.  These,  with  the  vicuna  and  guanaco, 
constitute  their  princi})al  riches:  they  still  live  in  a  state 
of  primeval  simplicity,  and  freedom  from  most  of  the  arti- 
ficial wants  of  civilization. 


3A. 


idcpenclcnce  when 
cans,  still  belongs 
nch  of  their  old 
>f  Chili,  a  district 
ity-eight  thousand 


iG  world  has  ever 
greater  advantages, 
0  arts,  have  aeconi- 
bo   compared  with 

The  diilerent  aims 
through-jut  the  long 
enlist  our  warmest 
one  hand,  the  insa- 
^uest,  or  the  scarcely   I 
itry,  were  the  ruling 
i  proved,  let  the  his- 
lile,  on  the  other,  the   ' 
;ners  of  the  soil,  iii- 

havc  been  directed 
Is  the  one  object  of 
■ndenee. 

,0  modern  Araucani- 

_  in  the  introduction 

[vicuna  and  guanaco, 

still  live  in  a  state 

•om  most  of  the  urti- 


INDIAN  TRIBES  OF  BRAZIL. 


CIlAPTEll  I. 

PHYSICAL  CHARACTERISTICS I'INZOn's  DISCOVKRIES LANDING    OF 

PEDRO    ALVAREZ  CAIiKAL  UPON  THE    BHAZIMAN   COAST EXPEDI- 
TION UNDER  VESPUCIUS CANNIBALISM — COLONIZATION  OF  THE 

COUNTRY,  AND  WARS  WITH  THE  NATIVES FATE  OF  JUAN  DE 

SOLIS,  AT  THE  ESTUARY   OF   LA  PLATA — SETTLEJIENT   OF 
BAHIA    DE    TODOS    SANTOS    BY    DIOCO    ALVAREZ — THE 
JESUITS PARTICULARS  OF  THE  CANNIBAL  PROPEN- 
SITIES OF  THE  NATIVES — THE  BOTOCUDOS. 

There  is  a  certain  degree  of  resemblance  in  form  and 
feature  between  the  Guarani  tribes  of  Brazil  with  those 
of  other  provinces  further  south,  and  the  races  north  of 
the  Amazon,  described  in  a  former  cha})ter.  The  obliquity 
of  the  eye,  and  the  yellowish  tinge  of  the  complexion,  with 
other  peculiarities,  give  them  somewhat  the  appearance  of 
the  Eastern  Asiatic  races.  "Tlie  Eastern  Guarani,"  ac- 
cording to  Prichard,  "arc  the  Tupi,  or  native  inhabitants 
of  the  Brazils.  'The  general  language  of  Brazil,'  says 
Ilcrvas,  'called  Tupi,  from  the  name  of  the  iirst  Indians 
who  were  converted  to  the  holy  faith,  is  not  more  different 
from  the  Guarani,  viz:  of  Paraguay,  than  the  Portuguese 
from  the  S])anish.'  The  same  writer  enumerates,  from  in- 
formation derived  from  ecclesiastics,  the  following  tribes 
who  speak  the  Tupi,  with  little  variety  of  dialect,  viz:  the 
Cariyi,  southward  of  the  1\ipi  proper,  reaching  as  far 
towards  the  south  as  the  Kio  Grande  del  Sud  or  S.  Pietro, 
39 


610 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


tlie  Tamoyi,  Tupinaqui,  Timmiminos,  Tobayari,  Tupin 
ambi,  Apanti,  Tapigoas,  and  several  other  tribes,  oeeu})y- 
ing  all  the  maritime  countries  as  far  north  as  the  river 
Maragnon." 

The  first  information  obtained  by  Europeans  concerning 
Brazil  and  its  inhabitants,  was  from  the  report  of  Vicente 
Pinzon,  the  associate  of  Columbus  upon  his  first  voyage 
to  America.  On  the  26th  of  January,  1500,  Pinzon,  who, 
with  several  vessels,  was  bound  upon  an  exploring  expedi- 
tion, made  the  present  Cape  St.  Augustine,  at  the  eastern 
extremity  of  the  southern  continent.  He  took  formal  pos- 
session of  the  country,  and  coasted  thence  as  far  north  as 
the  mouth  of  the  Amazon,  of  which  he  was  the  discoverer. 
The  voyage  was  in  some  respects  disastrous,  as  three  of  the 
vessels  were  lost,  and  several  men  perished  in  encounters 
Avith  the  ferocious  natives.  Upon  one  occasion,  a  single 
Spaniard  was  sent  forward  to  conciliate  and  parley  with 
a  group  of  Indians  who  stood  upon  a  hill  watching  tlic 
movements  of  the  strangers.  "  The  Spaniard,"  says  Southey, 
in  his  history  of  Brazil,  "made  all  the  friendly  signs  he 
could  devise,  and  threw  to  them  a  hawks'-bell,  for  which 
they  threw  down  something  which  was  supposed  to  be  a 
piece  of  gold ;  he  stooped  for  it,  and  they  sprang  forward 
to  seize  him."  He  defended  himself  with  great  vi-lor  and 
skill,  until  his  comrades  hastened  to  his  assistance.  "The 
savogcs,  with  their  deadly  archery,  slew  eight,  wounded 
many  more,  and  pursued  them  to  their  boats,  *  ^  They 
rushed  on  like  wild  beasts,  despising  wounds  and  death ; 
followed  the  boats  even  when  they  had  put  off,  dived  after 
them,  and  fairly  won  one  of  them,  having  slain  its  captain 
and  driven  out  the  crew." 

From  this  incident  it  will  plainly  ajij'jcar  that  the  Span- 
ish adventurers  had  an  enemy  to  deal  with  very  different 
from  the  gentle  and  luxurious  natives  of  the  islands.  That 
the  aborigines  of  some  portions  of  Brazil  were  a  warlike 


Fobayuri,  Tupin- 
cr  tribes,  occui)Y- 
orth  as  tlic  river 

opeans  concerning 
report  of  Vicente 
,n  his  first  voyage 
l500,  Pinzon,  who, 
,  exploring  expedi- 
tine,  at  the  eastern 
le  took  formal  po.s- 
ince  as  far  north  as 
was  the  discoverer. 
,rous,  as  three  of  the 
ished  in  encounters 
e  occasion,  a  single   ^ 
ite  and  parley  ^vilh   ij 
a  hill  watching  the    | 
iiard,"saysSouthey,   ji 
,ic  friendly  signs  he  j| 
[wks'-bell,  for  which  ;| 
IS  supposed  to  be  a  ^ 
they  sprang  forward  j 
vith  great  vdor  and  ; 
lis  assistance.     "The  j 
llew  eight,  wounded   ' 
Ir  boats.   *   ""   They 
] wounds  and  death; 
Id  put  off,  dived  after 
ring  slain  its  captain 

ipear  that  the  Span- 

with  very  different 

)f  the  islands.    That 

razil  were  a  warlike 


INDIAN  TlilUES  OF  BRAZIL. 


611 


and  fierce  race  of  caiudbals,  cannot  be  doubted  from  the 
accounts  given  by  early  voyagers,  although  some  have 
aftected  to  doubt  whether  tlic}^  were  actually  accustomed 
to  devour  human  flesh. 

During  the  s  "ing  following  Pinzon's  discovery,  Pedro 
Alvarcjs  Cabral  accidentally  came  upon  the  Brazilian 
coast,  as  he  was  steering  westward  to  avoid  the  terrible 
calms  which  prevail  west  of  the  tropiord  regions  of  Africa. 
lie  landed  at  the  spot  afterwards  the  tc  of  Cabralia,  about 
seventeen  degrees  south  of  Cape  St.  Augustine.  Cabi'al 
was  much  more  successful  tlian  his  predecessor  in  gaining 
the  confidence  of  the  natives.  The  tribe  with  whom  he 
first  held  intercourse  was,  indeed,  of  a  more  tractable  and 
kindly  disposition  than  those  met  with  by  Pinzon:  the 
usual  expedient  of  securing  a  prisoner,  and  then  dismiss- 
ing him  with  caresses  and  presents,  brought  the  natives 
in  admiring  crowds  about  the  vessel. 

Cabral  took  possession,  in  behalf  of  the  crown  of  Por- 
tugal, and,  erecting  a  crucifix,  ordered  the  ceremonials  of 
the  church  to  be  performed,  the  Indians  joining  readily  in 
the  attitude  of  devotion  assumed  by  the  comj)any. 

The  next  Portuguese  cxjiedition,  under  Amerigo  Tes- 
pucci,  sailed  from  Europe  in  May,  1501.  Land  was  made 
somewhere  in  the  vicinity  of  Cape  St.  Roque,  in  five  de- 
grees south  latitude,  where  the  voyagers  were  horror- 
stricken  at  the  discovery  of  the  cannibal  })ropensitios  of 
the  native  inhabitants.  Two  sailors  were  missing,  who 
had  been  allowed  to  go  on  shore  to  reconnoitre,  and  the 
crew  landed  in  the  boats  to  ascertain  their  fate.  A  young 
Portuguese  imprudently  Avent  forward  alone  to  communi- 
cate with  the  natives,  when,  in  plain  sight  of  his  comrades, 
he  was  set  upon  by  the  Avomen,  knocked  down  with  a 
club  from  behind,  and  dragged  off".  An  attack  upon  the 
boats  immediately  followed,  and,  although  the  savages 
were  easily  driven  off  by  the  fire-arms,  they  only  retired  to 


612 


INDIAN   KACES  OF  AMKRICA. 


dismember,  broil,  and  feast  upon  tl»c  body  of  the  man 
they  had  seeured.  liy  unmistakable  gestures,  they  made 
known  to  the  erew  that  the  other  two  I'ortugucse  had  met 
V,  itli  the  same  I'ate. 

No  settlement  in  the  eountry  wa.s  attempted  until  tlu; 
year  1503,  when  twenty-four  men  were  left  at  the  j)()rt  of 
All  Saints.  Private  adventurers  eommenced  eoloiiics  at 
various  })oints  upon  the  eoast  during  the  ensuing  years, 
making  the  eolleetiou  of  the  wood  I'rom  which  the  coimtry 
derives  its  name,  the  })rineipal  object  of  their  efforts.  A 
most  bloody  and  savage  warfare  soon  broke  out  between 
these  settlers  and  the  native  inhabitants,  in  which  eilli(^r 
party  seemed  to  strive  for  priknuinenee  in  cruelty.  A 
sy.stem  of  transporting  criminals  from  the  old  couulry  to 
Brazil  served  to  debase  the  character  of  the  colonies.  In 
■warfare  with  the  Indians,  on  the  one  liand,  the  prisoners 
were  slain  and  eaten;  and  on  the  other,  all  were  put  to 
death  except  such  us  would  be  valuable  for  slaves. 

Meantime,  the  rage  for  discovery  brought  out  divers 
adventurers  from  the  Old  World.  In  1509,  Don  Juan  de 
Solis,  accompanied  by  Vicento  l^inzon,  and  commissioned 
by  the  king  of  Castile,  coasted  as  far  south  as  the  moiuh 
of  the  La  Plata,  entering  upon  his  route  the  magnilieeiit 
liarbor  of  llio  Janeiro.  The  tragic  fate  of  tliis  eommunder 
is  thus  described  by  Southey:  AVhile  in  the  immeiiso 
estuary  of  the  river,  "the  natives  invited  iiim  to  shore, 
and  he  landed  with  a  boat's-erew,  intending  to  catch  one 
of  them  and  carry  him  to  Spain.  Their  intention  was 
worse  than  his,  and  better  executed.  They  had  stationed 
a  party  in  ambush,  who  rose  suddenly  upon  tlie  crew, 
seized  the  boat,  broke  it  to  pieces  in  an  instant,  and  slew 
every  man  witli  clubs:  then  they  took  the  bodi(!S  ujiou 
their  shoulders,  carried  them  to  a  spot  which  was  out  of 
the  reach  of  the  S})aniards,  but  within  sight,  and  there  dis- 
membered, roasted,  and  devoured  them.     The  scene  of 


I    . 


H. 


INDIAN  TIURES  OF  BRAZIL. 


613 


this  tragedy  was  on  the  north  sliorc,  between  Monte  Video 
and  Maldonado,  near  a  rivulet,  wliich  still  bears  the  name 
oC  Sobs." 

IMie  eir(nimstaiic(;s  connected  with  tlie  first  settlcrnont 
of  Baliia  de  Todos  Santos,  tlic  province  of  which  St.  Sul- 
vador  was  afterwards  the  ca{)ital,  are  si'ngidarly  striking. 
A  young  man,  from  Viana,  named  Diogo  Alvarez,  Avas 
one  of  a  slii])'s  company  wlio  had  bcicii  cast  away  n})on 
tlie  neigld)oring  slioals.  Of  tliose  wlio  reached  tlu;  .sliore 
in  safety,  Diogo  was  tlie  only  one  fortunate  enough  to 
escape  being  devoured.  He  managed  to  gain  the  good-will 
of  the  Indians  by  liis  services,  and  more  especially  com- 
manded their  respect  and  reverence  by  his  management 
of  a  nuiskot,  which,  with  a  store  of  anmninition,  he  had 
saved  from  the  wreck.  They  denominated  him  Caramuru, 
"the  man  of  fire,"  and  exalted  him  to  the  rank  of  a  great 
chief  and  captain.  In  wars  against  the  nation  of  the 
Tapuyas,  the  terror  of  Diogo's  wonderl'ul  weapon  gained 
th(!  most  signal  victories  for  his  associates:  in  reward  for 
his  services,  the  {)rin('ifial  men  of  the  country  gave  him 
their  daughters  (or  wives,  and  he  lived  like  a  sovi.'reign  sur- 
rounded by  reverential  attendants.  According  to  Southey, 
"lie  fixed  his  abode  where  Villa  Vclha  was  afterwards 
erected;  and  soon  saw  as  numerous  a  progeny  as  an  old 
patriarch's  rising  around  liim.  The  best  families  in  Baliia 
trace  their  origin  to  him." 

Diogo  took  advantage  of  the  arrival  of  a  Freneli  vessel 
upon  the  coast  to  return  to  Europe,  taking  with  him  one 
of  his  wives,  named  Paraguaza.  As  the  ship  got  under 
weigh,  several  of  his  other  consorts  gave  ])roof  of  their 
affection  by  swimming  after  it,  and  one  of  them  persisted 
in  the  hopeless  endeavor  to  follow,  until  so  exhausted  that 
she  perished  before  being  able  to  return  to  shore.  The 
king  and  queen  of  France  showed  great  attention  to  Diogo 
and  his  wife,  and  by  their  directions  the  latter  was  bap- 


614 


INDIAN   RACES  OF  AMEUICA. 


tizcd  with  much  ceremony,  and  joined  to  her  husband  by 
a  legal  marriage  according  to  the  rules  of  the  church. 

By  the  assistance  of  a  rich  merchant,  Diogo  afterwards 
returned  to  Bahia  with  many  conveniences  for  establishing 
himself  in  security  and  comfort,  and  for  the  arrangement 
of  a  regular  system  of  tradic  in  the  j)roductions  of  the 
country.  He  proved  of  inestimable  service,  in  after  years, 
when  an  extensive  colon i/.ation  of  that  region  took  place, 
in  keeping  up  friendly  relations  with  the  Indians.  From 
this  central  point,  where  St.  Salvador  was  built,  commenced 
that  wonderful  inllu' nee  exerted  by  the  Jesuit  nussion- 
aries  over  the  native  po{)ulation. 

These  entliusiastic  devotees  found  their  proselytes  not 
unapt  in  acquiring  the  Portuguese  language,  and  by  the 
attractions  of  music,  of  which  they  were  passionately  fond, 
together  with  kind  treatment  and  virtuous  example,  tliey 
won  over  great  numbera  to  a  conformation  to  the  outward 
requisitions  of  their  faith,  if  not  to  an  understanding  of  its 
abstractions.  One  thing,  however,  seemed  almost  imprac- 
ticable, and  that  was  to  eradicate  the  inordinate  propensity 
to  cannibalism,  so  universally  diffused  among  the  Brazilian 
aborigines.  An  anecdote  upon  this  point,  related  by  Mr. 
Southey,  has  been  often  told,  but  will  bear  repetition :  "A 
Jesuit  one  day  found  a  Bra/.ilian  woman  in  extreme  old 
age,  and  almost  at  the  point  of  death.  Having  catechisod 
her,  instructed  her,  as  he  conceived,  in  the  nature  of  Chris- 
tianity, and  comidetely  taken  care  of  her  soul,  he  began  to 
inquire  whether  there  was  any  kind  of  food  which  she 
could  take?  'Grandam,'  said  he,  'if  I  were  to  get  you  a 
little  sugar  now,  or  a  mouthful  of  some  of  our  nice  things 
which  we  bring  from  beyond  sea,  do  you  think  you  could 
cat  it?'  'Ah,  my  grandson,'  said  the  old  convert,  'my 
stomach  goes  against  every  thing.  There  is  but  one  thing 
which  I  fancy  I  could  touch.  If  I  had  the  little  hand  of 
a  little  tender  Tapuya  boy,  I   think  I   could   pick  the 


1  '• 


INDIAN  TUIBES  OF  BRAZIL. 


615 


of  food  which  she 
were  to  get  you  a 

of  our  nice  things 
ou  think  you  could 

old  convert,  'my 
ere  is  but  one  thing 


little  bones;  but,  woe  is  mo,  there  is  nobody  to  go  out 
and  shoot  one  for  me  I'" 

In  addition  to  the  instructions  and  persuasions  of  the 
Jesuits,  the  Portuguese  colonial  authorities  lent  their  aid 
to  enforce  the  regulations  prohibiting  this  unnatural  cus- 
tom, but  it  was  long  a  bone  ofcontentiou  between  them  and 
their  Indian  dependents,  who  were  willing  to  give  up  any 
other  of  their  national  usages  rather  than  this.  Purchas 
gives  the  following  description  of  some  of  the  ceremonies 
attendant  upon  the  disposal  of  prisoners  taken  in  battle : 

"Their  captiues  they  conucy  in  the  middest  of  their 
armie  home  to  their  territories,  and  thereuntoc  the  men 
will  not  stickc  to  give  their  sisters  or  daughters  to  per- 
forrne  all  the  duties  of  a  wife,  and  feed  them  with  the  best 
till  they  redemand  the  same  out  of  their  flesh.  *  *  When 
that  dismall  day  approcheth,  knowledge  is  given,  and  the 
men,  women,  and  children  assemble  to  the  place  appointed, 
and  there  pa.sse  the  morning  in  drinking,  and  the  Captiuc 
(although  he  knoweth  the  dreadfuU  issue)  danceth,  drink- 
eth,  and  frolickcs  it  with  the  best." 

They  then  lead  him  about  the  town  by  a  rope :  "  Neither 
doth  he,  for  all  this,  hang  downe  his  head,  as  men  here 
going  to  be  hanged,  but  with  incredible  courage  emblazon- 
eth  his  owne  worthinesse."  Like  the  North  American 
Indians,  the  victim  boasts  of  his  former  exploits  against 
his  captors,  with  every  species  of  taunt  and  provocation. 
He  recounts  those  whom  he  has  assisted  to  devour,  and 
l)rcdicts  a  terrible  retribution  for  his  own  destruction. 
"Then  they  bring  him  stones,  &  bid  him  reuengc  his 
death.  He  hurleth  them  at  those  that  stand  about  him, 
whereof  there  are  some  foure  thousand,  and  hurteth 
diuers." 

When  he  is  finally  dispatched,  his  temporary  wife 
"comes  to  the  carkasse,  and  spends  a  little  time  and  passion 
in  mourning,  but  her  Crocodiles  teares  are  soone  dried, 


■U; 


*f 


616 


INDIAN  1UCE3   OF  AiMKKICA. 


,../J 


,;■> 


and  tlic  luitn(>r  Pais  into  her  tooth,  which  wator  for  tho 
iirst  niorsoll."  Tho  wliolo  proooss  of  drossiiig  and  devour- 
ing is  minutoly  dosoribiid. 

Bahia  was  scttlod  about  tho  year  1550,  and  ten  years 
hvtcr  Jiio  .Janeiro  was  fbundod  by  tho  Portuguese  govertior, 
after  the  cx})ulsiou  of  the  l*'reneh,  who  had  attenipted  to 
gain  possession  of  tluit  n^gion  of  country.  The  coast  st!t- 
tlenicnts  were  steadily  increasing  in  stability  and  povvtu-, 
but  not  without  furtiier  contests  with  tho  native  inhabit- 
ants. Of  these,  the  most  savage  and  dangerous  were  the 
l?otocudos,  dwelling  in  tho  interior,  and  between  the  rivers 
Docc  and  Pardo,  from  the  fifteenth  to  the  twentieth  (l(\greo 
of  south  latitude.  They  have  always  been  (ioiisidcred  as 
being  among  the  most  repulsive  and  brutish  of  the  hu- 
man race.  They  are  supposed  to  be  the  same  race  as  the 
Ay  mores,  once  the  niost  (U\ngerous  enemies  of  the  Portu- 
guese settlers.  Their  natural  figure  and  tiie  coiifornuiti(  Jiiol' 
their  features  seem,  from  most  accounts,  to  bo  by  no  meiuis 
unpleasing.  Dwelling  in  a  forest  country,  their  com))le\- 
ion  is  fairer  than  that  of  many  of  the  South  Amerii'iui 
Indians;  it  is  of  a  light  yellowish  co])i)er  color,  and  siilli- 
cicntly  trans])arent  for  a  blush  to  be  jjorfectly  obvious. 
Tho  stories  of  their  frightful  and  hideous  a])[)eai'anco  may 
all  b(!  referred  to  one  most  barbai'ous  custom  of  mutilation 
and  deformity,  jirevalent  among  them  from  tlu;  earliest 
times.  This  is  tlie  insertion  of  a  large  wooden  plug  or 
button  called  tho  "botoque"  into  a  slit  in  the  under  lip: 
similar  appendag(;s  arc  worn  at  the  ears. 

This  botocpie  is  of  such  a  si/.e  that  its  pressure  generally 
causes  the  lower  teeth  eventually  to  fall  out,  and  its  ])r()- 
jcction  gives  the  most  hideously  uncouth  and  brutish 
appearance  to  the  countenance.  The  slit  is  made  and  the 
plug  is  inserted  during  childhood,  and  as  the  opening 
enlarges  with  time,  the  size  of  tho  botoque  is  increased 
until  it  has  reached  the  full  measure  of  deformity  and 


i\\  water  for  tho 
\su\<x.  and  devour- 


lO,  and  ton  years 
,u<,'uose  (^(wornor, 
[lad  atteni])ted  to 
f.     Tin;  coast  S(;t- 
l)ility  and  power,    1  \ 
le  native  inha\)il-    ,  | 
mj^^crous  were  the    \\ 
□etweon  the  rivers    h 
3  twcntietli  degr(!e    |  j 
)cen  eonsidered  as    i 
[)rutish  of  the  hu-    , 
2  same  race  as  tlu> 
mies  of  the  Tortii- 
he  conformation  of 

to  be  by  no  means 

,ry,  their  eonii^U^x- 

South  American 

ler  cohjr,  and  sulli- 

perfectly  obvious. 

IS  ;i[)pearanco  may 
stom  of  mutihitioii 
iVoni  the  earliest 

;c  wooden  pluijf  or 
in  the  under  hp: 

pressure  generally 
dl  out,  and  its  ])r()- 
outh  and  brutish 
it  is  made  and  tlio 
d  as  the  oi)enin,<]j 
)toque  is  increased 
of  defornuty  and 


7//f;     ruVGAK. 

Tiita  U  u  muat  fHrucloiig  nnlmal  dI'  llio  iiit  kind.     Ilu  ii  fuiiiid  in  viiiioiis  pni'ln  oi'  both 

Nuilli  ami  Siiiilli  ATiii'iicii.  I'spfciiilly  in  llniiil,  I'.inmniiy.  iirnl  (Iiimnii.     In  lliu  liisl-niKn- 

liuni'd    (;oiintr>,  \\w  jiii;nnr  ur  s'liiiili   Ann'iie'iui   lii;oi'.  is   eiin>.Kli"'i'il    it   less  ilanLCi.TiiUi 

Inlrnili'i-  iipoii  llm  ai'li  cnii'iiu  i.l'  llic  i'ilml)ilanli.     Nulw  illisltinilina!  llu'  a|i|iiiri.Mi!  mtraet- 


Ui.i 


1'  nulnp'  (I 


I  tin 


ii;»'ii',  liu  cmi  IjL'  taini'd,  il  ii  smd.  and   [■••iidui'd   a  dnin;  and   alfec- 


liunuU'  com|>anluti. 


■iy. 


/    .« 


if 


INDIAN  TIlIllKS  OF  DUAZIL. 


017 


inconvciiiciiop.  It  interferes  with  iiuustication,  and  is  every 
wiiy  (liH<(usting  imd  troubleaoinc,  but,  like  many  searcely 
less  irrational  anil  absurd  customs  among  enlightened  eom- 
munities,  it  retains  its  iiold  to  tiie  present  day. 

When  tiie  but(M|nc!  is  removed,  whieh  ()|)eiatiou  is  as 
easily  elVeettd  as  tiie  unlinltoniiig  aeoat,  a  disgusting  !ij)er- 
ture  is(Hselosed,  through  wliie.li  tiie  loosmied  and  distorted 
teetjj  distinetly  apjjear.  Purehas  says  oF  some  of  those 
wild  tribes  of  tlu;  interior,  generally  ealled  Tapuyas,  that 
on  their  travels,  "they  do  earry  great  store  of  tobaeeo  with 
tluMu;  and  eontinually  they  have  a  leaf  laid  along  tlieir 
mouth,  between  the  lip  and  the  teeth;  and,  as  they  go, 
the  same  runneth  out  of  tlu>  Jiole  that  they  have  in  tlu'ir  lips.'' 

The  Botoeudos  arc  of  an  iiulolent  disposition,  Imt  witliul 
capable  of  enduring  the  greatest  fatigue  when  oeeasiou 
reciuires.  TluMr  musi'ular  devi>lopment  is  remarkiibly  fine, 
and  a  life  of  ex[)osure  so  hardens  their  skin  that,  without 
elotliing,  they  ejin  with  perf"i't  ense  maki;  their  way  through 
tangled  brakes  whieh  would  elleetually  impede  the  pro- 
gress (n'  a  Kuropean.  'I'lirir  huts,  implements,  and  manner 
of  life  are  not  unlike  those  of  the  othci'  P'iasteru  nations  of 
the  tropical  portion  of  South  Ameriea,  with  the  exeej^tion 
of  their  slee()ing  aeeommodatious.  Tl;e  hanunoek  is  not 
in  use  among  them,  but  rude  couches  of  bark,  &e.,  laid 
upon  the  ground,  are  all  that  they  reiptire.  They  have 
no  boats  or  canoes,  and  it  has  been  said  of  them  that  tiiey 
were  entirely  ignorant  of  tlu;  art  ol'  swinuuing.  This 
appears  to  be  an  erroi'. 

Tlie  chaincter  of  the  Botoeudos  as  cannibals,  eond)ined 
with  the  repulsive  a]»i)earance  caused  by  the  botoqui',  has 
given  them  a  worse  reputation  perhaps  than  they  deserve. 
Many  desirable  traits  are  observable  in  tlu>ir  natural  char- 
acter, and  tlu'ir  intellectual  cajnicity  iloes  not  seem  to  be 
inferior  to  the  generality  of  South  American  Indians. 
Their  aversion  to  labour  does  not  result  in  apathy,  nor  do 


|!t  \ 


618 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AMERICA. 


we  perceive  in  them  that  gloomy,  morose,  and  reserved 
demeanor  common  among  some  of  the  Western  Abori- 
gines. TIic}'-  are  spoken  of  as  "gay,  facetious,  and  ready 
to  converse." 

Some  praise-worthy  efforts  have  been  made  for  the  im- 
provement and  civilization  of  this  race,  the  eft'ects  of 
which  have  been  very  satisfactory.  Mr.  Pritchard  quotes 
as  follows,  from  the  records  of  the  "Society  for  the  Pro- 
tection of  the  Aborigines:" 

"By  the  exertions  of  Guido  Marlierc,  to  whom  com- 
munications were  made  on  the  part  of  this  society,  almost 
at  the  commencement,  Guido  Procranc,  a  Botocudo  In- 
dian of  great  native  talent,  was  introduced  to  the  blessings 
of  civilization  and  Christianity,  and  his  new  acquireincnts 
were  directed  to  the  amelioration  of  his  countrymen.  Ilis 
exertions  have  been  crowned  with  signal  success,  and  four 
sections  of  the  ba"barous  tribes  have  been  brought  under 
the  influence  of  civilization,  and  taught  to  cultivate  tlieir 
soil,  fi'om  which  they  have  raised  not  only  enough  for 
their  own  support,  but  a  surplus,  which  has  been  the  means 
of  rescuing  even  a  portion  of  the  white  Brazilians  from 
famine  and  starvation.  Useful  laws  have  been  introduced 
among  them,  and  Guido  Procrane,  in  the  criminal  code 
which  he  has  established,  has  set  an  exam])le  whicli  legisla- 
tors, the  hereditary  professors  of  Christianity,  would  do  well 
to  imitate,  in  the  total  exclusion  of  capital  punishment." 


INDIAN  TUIUES  OF  BRAZIL. 


619 


CHAPTER   II. 


SUCCESS  OF  THE    PORTUUUESE  AGAINST   THE  NATIVES — THEIR    CON- 
TESTS WITH    SETTLERS   FROM  OTHER    COUNTRIES  OF  EUROPE 

ENGLISH    COLONY  AT    PARAIRA EXPULSION    OF  GUARANI 

TRIBES    FROM  THEIR    COUNTRY  ON   LA  PLATA DIVI- 
SION OF  BRAZILIAN  NATIONS lUILY  ROUTINE  OF 

INDIAN  LIFE  IN  THE  FORESTS — REFLECTIONS. 

To  continue  our  narrative  of  Portuguese  settlement  and 
colonization,  the  eiforts  of  the  viceroy  Mem  da  Sa,  resulted 
in  tlie  reduction  of  the  savage  and  turbulent  Botocudos. 
In  the  desultory  warfare  of  the  time,  the  aid  ol  such  In- 
dian allies  as  were  attached  to  the  royal  cause  was  of  sig- 
nal advantage. 

The  immense  extent  of  fruitful  sea-coast  along  the 
eastern  shores  of  Braz;il,  invited  adventurers  from  various 
European  nations.  The  French,  as  we  have  seen,  were 
repelled  in  their  efforts  to  colonize  the  region  of  the  La 
Plata,  and  the  Portuguese  were  no  less  s\iccessful  in  expel- 
ing  intruders  from  other  quarters.  An  English  settlement 
had  been  commenced  at  Paraiba,  to  the  northward  of  Per- 
nambuco.  The  colonists  at  this  place,  says  Southey,  "con- 
nected themselves  with  the  native  women;  and  in  another 
generation  the  Anglo-Tupi  Mamalucos  might  have  been 
found  dangerous  neighbors,  if  the  governor  of  St.  Sebas- 
tians, steatlily  pursuing  the  system  of  his  court,  had  not, 
in  the  fifth  year  of  their  abode,  attacked  and  exterminated 
them.  They  who  escaped  from  the  merciless  war  which 
the  Portuguese  waged  against  all  interlopers,  fled  into  the 
interior,  and  either  they  were  eaten  by  the  savoges,  as  was 
believed,  or  lived  and  died  among  them,  becoming  sav- 
ages themselves." 

Long  and  wearisome  details  of  struggles  for  empire 
in  the  New  World  between  the  Portuguese,  Spanish,  and 


L_. 


•■■''''■•, 

5- 


IkM  .  I 


620 


INDIAN   RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


Dutch,  occupy  the  history  of  Brazil  \intil  the  cstablis})- 
merit  in  that  country  of  the  royal  family  of  Portugal,  in 
1808.  Few,  except  the  Jesuits,  seemed  to  have  any  eare 
for  the  rights  of  the  native  population,  or  interest  in  their 
improvement.  Tliese  missionaries- — zealous  and  devoted 
in  whatever  cause,  whether  for  good  or  ill,  that  they  es- 
poused— drew  upon  themselves  no  trilling  persecution  by 
tlieir  edbrts  in  behalf  of  the  Indians.  Upon  a  settlement 
of  the  limits  of  jurisdiction  on  the  La  Plata,  in  1750,  be- 
tween the  Spanish  and  Portuguese  governments,  thirty 
thousand  of  the  Guarani  tribe  were  compelled  to  abandon 
their  homes.  These  Indians  had  been  objects  of  especial 
care  to  the  Jesuit  missionaries,  and  in  the  resista.ice  which 
they  naturally  made  to  so  sunnnary  a  removal,  they  in- 
volved their  spiritual  guides  in  diniculties. 

"The  Indians,"  says  Conder,  "rose  in  all  directions  to 
oppose  the  mandate;  but  the  short  though  vigorous  resist- 
ance which  they  nuide,  only  left  them  more  than  ever  in 
the  power  of  tlieir  cncniics.  Great  nund)crs  were  slaugh- 
tered, and  those  who  refused  to  submit  were  compelled  to 
leave  the  country.  *  *  In  the  year  1761,  when  Carlos 
III.  acceded  to  the  throne  of  Spain,  the  treaty  of  jmits 
was  annulled;  the  (iuaranies  who  had  been  so  wantonly 
and  cruelly  expelled  were  instructed  to  return  to  their 
dilapidated  town  and  wasted  country,  and  the  .Jesuits, 
resuming  their  benignant  administration,  exerted  them- 
selvt's  to  repair,  as  far  as  possible,  the  evils  that  had  been 
done." 

The  elfectvS  of  the  Catholic  mission  in  Brazil  are  still 
visible  among  no  small  portion  of  the  aboriginal  iidiabit- 
ants.  Unfortunately  in  too  many  instances  the  religion 
which  they  now  profess  is  but  a  graft  upon  their  old 
superstitions. 

The  Indians  of  Brazil  arc  divided  into  a  great  number 
of  tribes,  dill'ering  more  in  language  than  in  general  ap- 


INDIAN  TRIBES  OF  BRAZIL. 


621 


pcarance  and  characteristics.  The  Tupis,  wlio  were  the 
most  extensively  diftused  over  the  coast  conniry  at  the  pe- 
riod of  the  first  P]uropean  discovery,  are  greatly  reduced  in 
numbers.  The  tribes  of  the  far  interior,  where  little  or  no 
intercourse  is  held  with  the  whites,  have  changed  but  little 
from  the  habits  and  ap})earance  of  their  ancestors.  Dr. 
Yon  Martins  has  enumerated  no  less  than  two  hundred  and 
lifty  distinct  tribo5  or  nations  within  the  limits  of  Brazil; 
mtiny  of  them,  to  be  sure,  consisting  of  but  few  families 
or  individuals,  and  not  sulficicntly  distinct  one  from  an- 
other to  render  a  classification  useful  or  interesting.  This 
traveller  has  given  a  very  lively  pictui'e  of  the  life  and 
daily  routine  of  these  denizens  of  the  forest.  The  follow- 
ing sketch  is  selected  from  his  "  Travels,"  and  transcribed 
in  an  article  upon  the  Brazilian  Indians,  to  be  found  in 
that  invaluable  periodical,  the  "Penny  ^Magazine:" 

"As  soon  as  the  first  rays  of  the  sun  beam  on  the  hut 
of  the  Indian,  he  awakes,  rises  immediately,  and  goes  to 
the  door,  where  he  generally  spends  some  time  in  rublnng 
and  stretching  his  limb.i. — Heturning  into  the  hut,  he  looks 
for  the  still  live  embers  of  the  fire  of  the  day  before,  or 
lights  it  afresh  by  means  of  two  dry  sticks,  one  of  which 
he  sets  upon  the  other,  twirling  it  like  a  mill  till  it  kin- 
dles, and  then  he  adds  dry  gras-.  or  straw.  All  the  male 
inhabitanta  thou  take  part  in  the  business;  some  drag 
wood  out  of  the  forest;  others  heap  up  the  fire  between 
several  large  stones,  and  all  of  them  seat  themselves  round 
"t  in  a  s([uatting  attitude.  Without  looking  at  or  speak- 
ing to  each  other,  they  often  remain  for  hours  together 
in  this  positiim,  solely  engaged  in  keeping  in  the  fire, 
oi'  roasting  Spanish  potatoes,  bananas,  ears  of  maize, 
&c.,  in  tlic  ashes  for  breakfiist.  A  tame  monkey,  or  some 
other  of  their  numerous  domestic  animals  with  which  they 
play,  serves  to  amuse  them.  The  first  employment  of  the 
women,  on  leaving  their  hammocks,  is  to  paint  themselves 


;:ii 


m 


t:          ■.■'■•{ 

'i    '■        ■''' 

!                    -   ,■ 
1  . 

1 

. ''  ■:.  :  ■. ,' 

■■•..( 

■i  ■  I 


•v:  I: 


622 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMEKICA. 


and  their  children,  on  which  each  goes  to  her  domestic 
occupation,  stripping  the  threads  from  the  pahn-trecs, 
manufacturing  nets,  making  earthen-ware,  rubbing  man- 
dioca,  and  pounding  maize,  from  which  they  make  a  cool- 
ing beverage.  Others  go  to  their  little  plantations  to  fetch 
maize,  mandioca,  and  beans;  or  into  the  forest  to  look 
for  wild  fruits  and  roots.  When  the  men  have  finished 
their  frugal  brcakfost,  tliey  prepare  their  bows,  arrows, 
strings,  &c." 

As  the  heat  of  the  day  increases,  the  Indian  takes  his 
bath,  and  then  systematically  sets  about  his  day's  hunt; 
"the  tajiir,  monkics,  pigs,  armadilloes,  pascas,  and  agou- 
tis, are  his  favorite  dishes,  but  he  readily  cats  deer,  birds, 
turtles,  and  fish,  and  in  case  of  need,  contents  himself  with 
serpents,  toads,  and  larva)  of  large  insects  roasted." 

The  general  tenor  of  this  savage  life,  as  well  as  the  con- 
struction of  dwellings,  implements,  boats,  &c.,  is  not  unlike 
what  has  already  been  described  relating  to  the  Indians  of 
Guiana.  The  same  rude  huts  of  palm,  open,  or  closed 
upon  the  most  exposed  quarter  by  thatch  or  wicker-work, 
the  hammocks,  the  simplest  form  of  pottery  and  wooden 
vessels,  and  the  almost  invariable  arms  and  weapons  of 
the  savage,  sufiifc  for  their  necessities,  and  for  what  they 
know  of  luxury  and  comfort. 

Some  of  the  remote  tribes  are  said  to  be  still  addicted 
to  the  old  national  propensity  for  cannibalism.  "Infanti- 
cide is  still  more  common ;  and  many  tribes  put  the  aged 
and  infirm  to  death.  Dr.  Von  Martius  states  that  the 
Guaicuru  women  never  rear  any  children  before  their 
thirtieth  year;  the  Guanas  often  bury  their  female  chil- 
dren alive,  and  even  the  mothers  expose  their  new-born 
infants;  and  parental  aflxjction  is  a  thing  unknown  on  the 
father's  side." 

Can  we  indulge  any  rational  hope  that  these  barbarous 
nations  will  ever  be  brought,  as  a  distinct  race,  within  the 


0  her  domestic 
the  palvn-trees, 
,  rubbing  man- 
cy  make  a  cool- 
ntations  to  fetch 
3  forest  to  look 
n  have  finished 
r  bows,  arrows, 


Indian  takes  his 

his  day's  hunt; 
lascas,  and  agou- 
r  eats  deer,  birds, 
cnt«  himself  with 
ts  roasted." 
IS  well  as  tlie  eon- 

&c.,  is  not  unlike 
r  to  the  Indians  of 
,  open,  or  closed 

I  or  wicker-work, 
ttery  and  wooden 
and  weapons  of 

,nd  for  what  they 

I)  be  still  addicted 

[alism.     "Infanti- 

ibes  put  the  aged 

Is  states  that  the 

Iren  before  their 

their  female  chil- 

;e  their  new-born 

unknown  on  the 


It  these  barbarous 
\t  race,  within  the 


INDIAN  TRIBES  OF  BRAZIL. 


G2S 


pale  of  civilization ;  or  must  the  usual  course  of  extinc- 
tion or  amalgamation  be  the  only  means  by  which  the 
immense  and  luxuriantly  fertile  regions  which  they  inliabit 
shall  eventually  be  improved  for  the  support  of  the  mil- 
lions that  they  are  capable  of  sustaining?  Tlie  Tnxpiois 
witliin  the  state  of  New  York,  and  tlie  Cherokee  settle- 
ments west  of  the  Mississippi,  arc  almost  the  only  prosper- 
ous and  civilized  districts  inhabited  by  American  Indians. 
It  will  be  a  most  gratifying  result  if  the  next  generation 
shall  witness  the  original  proprietors  of  this  vast  country 
taking,  in  the  persons  of  their  representatives,  an  equtd 
jilaee  among  its  European  occupants.  A  right  state  of 
feeling,  upon  the  subject  of  what  is  due  1o  the  Indian, 
seems  to  be  upon  the  ascendant  in  the  United  States, 
except  in  those  districts  where  there  is  still  a  conflict  of 
interest  between  the  different  races. 


n 


.4'' 


.,'"  1 


;.!;-5T* 


;'■'■■■    '.■;»''fl^^.<' 


THE  PAMPAS  INDIANS. 


THEIR  HOnSEMANSHIP — THEIR  MODE  OF  I-IFE — SIR  FUANCIS  HEAD  S 
DESCHII'TIONS  OF  THE    RACE FEMALE  CAI'TIVES  AMONG  THE  IN- 
DIANS  TRADING  VISITS  TO  EUROPEAN  SETTLEMENTS I'LASSI- 

riCATION  OF  TRIBES CHANGE  IN  THEIR  CONDITION   HV    THE 

INTRODUCTION  OF  EUROPEAN  DOMESTIC  ANIMALS. 

The  vast  plains  or  pampas  of  Buenos  Ayres  arc  inhab- 
ited— wliere  European  settlements  have  not  yet  extended 
— by  a  wild  and  singular  race  of  Indians.  'J\)  tluMn  the 
horse  is  all  that  the  rein-deer  is  to  the  Laplanders,  consti- 
tuting their  chief  support,  and  almost  their  only  enjoyment. 
Nearly  destitute  of  clothing,  and  careless  of  the  oi-ilinary 
conveniences  and  comforts  of  life,  they  are  trained  from 
infancy  to  scour  the  plains,  often  without  saddU-s,  upon 
the  wild  horses  who  roam  at  will  over  the  IkjuiuUcss  ex- 
panse of  meadow.  The  world  has  never  jJi-odiKU'd  such 
magnificent  horsemen:  "Th..  Gauchos,"  says  Sir  Francis 
Head,  "who  themselves  ride  so  beautifully,  all  declare  that 
it  is  impossible  to  ride  with  an  Indian ;  for  tluit  the  1  ndians' 
horses  are  better  than  theirs,  and  also  that  they  have  such 
a  way  of  urging  on  their  horses  by  their  cries,  and  by  a 
peculiar  motion  of  their  bodies,  that  even  if  they  were  to 
change  horses,  the  Indians  would  beat  them.  The  Gau- 
chos  all  seemed  to  dread  very  much  the  Indians'  spears. 
They  said  that  some  of  the  Indians  charged  without  either 
saddle  or  bridle,  and  that  in  some  instances  they  were  hang- 
ing almost  under  the  bellies  of  their  horses,  and  shrieking 
so  that  the  horses  were  afraid  to  face  them." 


fS. 


;1R  FUANTIS  HF.AD  S 
.;S  AMONli  Till';  IN- 
CMK.NTS — -Cl.ASSI- 
SDITION    liV   THE 
;   ANIMALS. 

Ay  res  arc  inliab- 
uot  yet  extended 
ns.     To  tliein  the 
.uplandeiv,  consti- 
ironlyenjoyiiicnt. 
s  of  tlic  ordiiuiry 
arc  traine<l  from 
>ut  saVldU'.s,  upon 
the  boundless  cx- 
cr  produced  such 
says  Sir  Francis 
y,  all  dechire  that 
)rth.tt  the  Indians' 
it  tlu^y  have  such 
ir  cries,  and  by  a 
n  if  they  ^verc  to 
them.     Tlio  Gau- 
0  Indians'    spears, 
(fed  without  either 
ics  they  were  hang- 
;-scs,  and  shrieking 
lem." 


THE  PAMPAS  INDIANS. 


625 


The  whole  lives  of  these  singular  people  are  spent  upon 
norseback,  a  natural  result  of  which  is  an  incapacity  for 
other  species  of  exertion.  Walking  is  intolerable  to  them : 
the  fiitigue  and  tediousness  of  such  a  mode  of  travelling 
over  an  uidimited  level,  would  be  disheartening  to  any, 
more  particularly  to  those  who  have  continually  availed 
themselves  of  the  services  of  the  horse. 

Something  of  the  ordinary  system  of  Indian  government 
exists  among  the  numerous  tribes,  but  they  are  all  of  unset- 
tled and  roving  habits,  shifting  their  quarters  continually 
in  search  of  better  pasturage,  and  subsisting  chiefly  upon 
marcs'  flesh.  Wherever  they  betake  themselves,  they 
drive  before  them  great  herds  of  horses,  and  the  skill 
with  which  they  will  catch,  mount,  and  manage  a  fresh 
animal,  when  the  one  they  have  been  riding  is  wearied,  is 
unequalled. 

The  author  above  quoted,  whose  characteristicall}^  graphic 
description  of  a  gallop  acrosn  the  pampas  has  won  so  ex- 
tensive a  reputation,  observes  of  the  Indians:  "The  occu- 
pation of  their  lives  is  war,  which  they  consider  is  their 
noble  and  most  natural  employment;  and  they  declare 
that  the  proudest  attitude  of  the  human  figure  is  when, 
bending  over  his  horse,  man  is  riding  at  his  enem3^  The 
principal  weapon  which  they  use  is  a  spear  eighteen  feet 
long;  they  manag  it  with  great  dexterity,  and  are  able 
to  give  it  a  tremulous  motion  which  has  often  shaken  the 
sword  from  the  hand  of  their  European  adversaries."  In 
addition  to  the  spear,  they  make  use,  both  in  war  and 
hunting,  of  a  most  effective  instrument  called  the  hallos. 
This  is  a  species  of  slung-shot,  consisting  of  a  stout  leathern 
thong  with  a  ball  of  lead  attached  to  either  end.  A  terri- 
ble blow  can  be  struck  with  this  weapon,  and,  as  a  missile, 
the  Indians  use  it  with  great  dexterity  and  effect  within  a 
moderave  range.  The  lasso,  or  long  noose  attached  to  the 
saddle,  is  also  an  effective  implement. 
40 


'^1 


tljl] 


INDIAN  KACKS  OF  AMERICA. 


no: 


Between  thcin  and  tlie  Gauclios,  a  scarcely  less  wild  race 
r  cavaliers,  principally  of  Spanish  descent,  the  most  deadly 

stility  constantly  prevails.  In  the  exposed  districts,  rudo 
fortilieations  arc  ercct(Hl  for  the  ])rotcction  of  tlie  white 
inhabitants  against  Indian  iiuMM'sions.  The  ])rincip!'.l  de- 
fence of  these  fortresses  is  said  to  be  a  narrow  ditch,  over 
wliich  the  Indian  horses,  accnstoined  to  the  unobstructed 
level  of  the  prairie,  refuse  to  leap,  and  nothing  could  in- 
duce their  rider  to  attenii)t  any  thing  u[)on  foot.  Upon 
occasion  of  a  successful  assault,  the  savages  show  little 
mercy.  All  the  unfortunate  whites  are  murdered,  except 
such  of  the  young  women  as  ai)pear  sulTiciently  attractive 
to  make  desirable  wives.  "  Wiiether  the  poor  girls  can 
ride  or  v.ct,"  says  Head,  "they  arc  instantly  placed  upon 
liorses,  and  when  the  hasty  plunder  of  the  hut  is  con- 
cluded, tncy  are  driven  away  from  its  smoking  ruins  and 
from  the  horrid  scene;  whicli  surrounds  it." 

"At  a  pace  Vvdiich  in  Europe  is  unknown,  they  gallop 
over  the  trackless  regions  before  them,  fed  upon  mares' 
flesh,  sleeping  on  the  ground,  until  they  arrive  in  the  In- 
dian's territory,  when  they  have  instantly  to  adopt  the 
wild  life  of  their  captors. 

"I  was  informed  by  a  very  intelligent  French  oflicer,  who 
was  of  high  rank  in  the  Peruvian  army,  that  on  friendly 
terms,  he  had  once  passed  through  part  of  the  territory 
of  these  Pam})as  Indians,  in  order  to  attack  a  tribe  who 
were  at  war  with  them,  and  that  he  had  met  several  of  the 
young  women  who  had  been  thus  carried  olf  by  the  Indians. 

"  lie  told  me  that  lie  had  offered  to  obtain  permission  for 
them  to  return  to  their  country,  and  that  he  had,  in  addi- 
tion, oftered  them  large  sums  of  money  if  they  would,  in 
the  mean  while,  act  as  interpreters;  but  they  all  replied 
that  no  inducement  in  the  world  should  ever  make  them 
leave  their  husbands,  or  their  children,  and  that  they  were 
quite  delighted  with  the  life  they  led." 


r.:'f 


:':!(! 


ly  less  wild  race 
the  most  deadly 
n\  districts,  rudo 
)ii  of  tlic  white 
'he  i)riHcii)!d  de- 
rrow  ditch,  over 
he  unoltstnietcd 
othing  could  in- 
,ou  foot.  Upon 
^aj'"es  show  little 
unrdero*!,  except 
eieiitly  attractive 
ic  poor  girls  can 
ntly  placed  upon 
•  the  hut  is  cou- 
noking  ruins  and 

t." 

|H)\vn,  they  gallop 
fed  upon  mares' 
arrive  iu  the  In- 

ntly  to  adopt  tbo 


1  ronch  oniccr,  who 
that  on  I'riondly 
I  of  the  territory 
ttack  a  tribe  who 
met  several  of  the 
oll'hy  the  Indians, 
liu  permission  for 
it  he  had,  in  addi- 
if  they  would,  in 
It  they  all  replied 
1  ever  make  them 
md  that  they  were 


THE  PAMPAS  INDIANS. 


627 


There  is  certainly  something  strangely  fascinating  in  the 
Idea  of  a  wild  life,  unfettered  by  the  artificial  restraints 
of  society,  and  the  constant  call  f()r  exertion  and  care  inci- 
dent to  civilized  existence.  We  see  that  iu  a  majority  of 
eases  the  iidiabitants  of  even  tlic  most  desolate  and  inhos- 
pitable regions  of  the  earth,  after  experiencing  the  com- 
forts of  civilization,  arc  still  glad  to  return  to  the  scenes 
ami  habits  to  which  they  were  early  inured.  Ft  is  easier 
i'or  the  educated  and  enlightened  Kuropean  to  discard  the 
advantages  which  he  has  inherited,  and  to  adopt  the  hab- 
its and  life  of  the  savage,  es]iecially  in  a  genial  and  spon- 
taneously productive  clime,  than  for  the  latter  to  give  up 
his  wild  freedom  for  the  responsibilities  and  cares  of 
civilization. 

In  times  of  '^.eace  the  free  rovers  of  the  South  Ameri- 
can pampas  make  occasional  visits  to  the  European  towns 
and  settlements  for  the  purpose  of  trade.  They  bring  in 
such  few  articles  of  peltry,  &c.,  as  they  deal  ir>,  to  barter 
for  sugar,  "knives,  spurs,  and  liquor."  Delivering  up  all 
their  dangerous  weapons  to  their  chief,  they  devote  them- 
selves, at  lirst,  to  a  regular  drinkirg-bout,  after  recovering 
from  which,  they  oU'er  their  goods  to  the  trades-people. 
They  will  have  nothing  to  do  with  money,  or  the  ordina- 
ry rules  of  weight  and  measure,  but  designate,  by  some 
mark  of  their  own,  the  quantity  of  the  commodity  they 
require  in  exchange  for  their  own  stock. 

The  Pampas  Indians  are  classilied  as  belonging  to  the 
great  Patagonian  or  Pampean  groupe,  which  is  divided 
into  the  following  nations:  the  Tehuelche,  Puelche,  Char- 
ma,  Mbocobi  or  Toba,  Mataguayo,  Abipones,  and  Lengua. 
That  portion  of  which  we  have  been  speaking  in  this 
chapter,  consists  princij)ally  of  the  Puelche :  their  ancestors 
v/erc  found  further  north,  bordering  upon  the  tribes  of  Para- 
guay, and  upon  the  first  arrival  and  settlement  of  Europeans 
upon  the  La  Plata,  proved  most  formidable  enemies. 


.M 


I.. 


628 


INDIAN   RACP]3  OF  AMEUICA. 


They  also  inliabited  the  eastern  mountainous  regions  of 
Chili,  where  thej  were  allied  to  and  classed  with  the  no- 
ble and  warlike  Araucanians.  Molina,  in  his  account  of 
that  race,  says  of  the  Puelchcs:  "These,  although  tliey 
conform  to  the  general  customs  of  the  nation,  always  dis- 
cover a  greater  rudeness  and  savageness  of  manners. 
Their  name  signifies  Eastern-men.  *  *  The  Araucanians 
hold  these  mountaineers  in  high  estimation  for  the  im- 
portant services  which  they  occasionally  render  them,  and 
for  the  fidelity  which  they  have  always  observed  in  their 
alliance  with  them." 

The  first  town  built  upon  the  site  of  the  present  city  of 
Buenos  Ayres,  in  1534,  was  dcstro^'cd  by  the  Indians;  and 
their  bold  attacks  repelled  the  Spanish  adventurers  in  this 
quarter  until  1580.  Even  then  they  renewed  their  lios- 
tilities,  but  the  fall  of  their  cl'ief  cacique  in  battle,  and 
the  more  efficient  fortification  of  the  new  town,  baOled 
them  and  caused  their  entire  defeat. 

In  these  early  times  their  habits  were  of  course  different 
from  what  we  may  now  notice,  as  horses  and  cattle  were 
not  introduced  until  the  arrival  of  Europeans.  The  emu 
or  American  ostrich,  still  an  inhabitant  of  the  Pampas, 
the  deer,  sloth,  and  small  game,  supplied  them  with  food. 
The  unprecedented  natural  increase  of  cattle  and  horses, 
turned  free  to  roam  over  the  rich  grassy  savannalis,  sup- 
plied them  with  entirely  new  resources. 

Those  Indians  of  Buenos  Ayres,  Paraguay,  and  other 
southern  provinces,  who  live  in  the  midst  of  the  white 
settlements,  are  mostly  Christian  converts,  at  least  in  name 
and  the  observance  of  religious  formula). 

The  extent  to  which  the  different  nations  of  Europe, 
Africa,  and  America  have  become  mixed  in  most  of  tlie 
South  American  provinces,  renders  any  thing  like  accurate 
enumeration  of  the  amount  of  the  present  Indian  popula- 
tion difficult,  if  not  impossible. 


nous  regions  of 
3d  witli  the  no- 
hia  account  of 
altliougli  thoy 
,ion,  always  di.s- 
;S9  of  manners, 
'he  Araucanians 
iion  for  the  im- 
cnder  them,  and 
bseived  in  their 

10  present  city  of 
the  Indians;  and 
[venturers  in  this 
iiewed  their  hos- 
10  iu  battle,  and 
low  town,  badled 

)f  course  different 
s  and  cattle  were 
peans.  The  emu 
t  of  the  Pampas, 
1  them  with  food, 
cattle  and  horses, 
y  savannahs,  sup- 

-aguay,  and  other 
idst  of  the  white 
at  least  in  name 

ations  of  Europe, 
■d  in  most  of  the 
,hing  like  accurate 
jnt  Indian  popula- 


TIIE  PATAGONIANS. 


EARLY  EXAGGERATRD  REPORTS  CONCERNING  THEM RACE  TO  WHICH 

THEY  BELONG NATURE  OF  THE  COtTNTRV TKHRA    DEL  FUEGO 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION   AND  CLASSIFICATION   OF   THE    INHABIT- 
ANTS  CAPTAIN  FITZROY's  NARRATIVE PHYSICAL  CONFOR- 
MATION OF  THE  NATIVES — SCANTINESS  OF  THEIR  CLOTHING 

THEIR  HUTS,   RESOURCES   FOR  FOOD,  ETC. FUEGIANS 

CARRIED  TO  ENGLAND  BY  FITZttOY — ATTEMPT  AT  THE 

INTRODUCTION  OF  AGRICULTURE  ON  THE  ISLAND 

PECHERAIS    DESCRIIiED    IN  WILKES'  NARRATIVE 
OF  THE  U.  states'  EXPLORING  EXPEDITION. 

^fosT  extravagant  reports  were  circulated,  in  early  times, 
of  the  gigantic  size  of  the  natives  of  the  southern  extremity 
of  the  Americau  continent.  These  were  not  wholly  fabu- 
lous, hut  merely  exaggerations,  as  from  recent  travellers 
we  have  accurate  descriptions  of  various  tribes,  among 
which  the  average  height  of  the  men  greatly  exceeds  that 
of  mankind  in  general.  1'he  Tehuelches  in  particular, 
although  less  warlike  and  dangerous  than  many  other 
nations,  are  noted  for  their  gigantic  proportions.  They 
are  said  to  be  more  than  six  feet  in  height,  upon  an  aver- 
age, and  some  of  them  considerably  exceed  that  measure : 
Tlicv  are  muscular,  and  athletic  in  proportion. 

The  Patagonian  tribes  are  included  under  the  same 
general  classification  with  the  Puelches  of  the  pampas,  and 
the  numerous  nations  further  north,  spread  over  the  vast 
and  indeterminate  region  denominated  Chaco,  between 
Paraguay  and  Chili.  Over  the  extensive  plains,  and  table- 
land between  the  Andes  and  the  eastern  sea-board,  the 


ill 


♦;30 


INDIAN   RACKS  OF  AMETilCA. 


rr    .-i 


wild  trilK'H  of  rutiij^oniii  wiimlt'r  in  iiiidisturlK'il  fivclom. 
'I'licir  iiiaiinor  of  life  la  siiniltir  to  tluit  of  the  I'aiiiiKis  In- 
<liaiis  of  Soullierii  IJiienos  Ayros,  jis  wild  liorscs  und  ciittlo 
liavt!  sjiri'ad  over  tlie  iiortlierii  parts  of  llieir  country  in 
almost  c'ljLial  abuiidaiice.  'I'lie  same  fierce,  uiitamcal)lo 
hpiiit,  and  the  same  carelessness  of  tlie  comforts  of  lile, 
wiiii  ability  to  endure  the  extremes  of  exposure  und  fa- 
tigue, characterize  all  these  races  of  centaurs.  Kven  in 
the  colder  re,L,nons  of  the  extrenu>  south,  little  in  the  way 
of  clothinjf  is  worn,  and  the  naked  body  of  the  savage  is 
e\])tAsecf  to  snows  and  storms,  against  which  the  covering 
of  the  European  would  allbrd  incomplete  protccliwu. 

"These  men,"  says  Purchas,  speaking  of  those  near  the 
straits  of  ^[agcllan,  "both  (liants  and  othei's,  went  eithci' 
wholly  naked,  or  so  clothed,  as  they  S(Hnned  not  to  dread 
the  cold,  which  is  yet  there  so  violent,  that  besides  the 
nioi'.ntaine-toppes,  alway  couered  with  Snow,  iheii-  V(M'v 
ISumniers,  in  the  middest  thereof,  freeth  them  not  from  ice." 

A  great  ])ortion  of  Patagonia  is  sterile  and  barren,  desti- 
tute of  timber,  and  covered  only  with  a  kind  of  coarse  grass, 
or  with  th(jrny  shrubs.  The  country  ri.scs  in  a  series  of 
terraces  from  the  low  eastern  .sea-coast  to  the  range  of  the 
Andes,  The  northern  districts  are  in  many  parts  fertile 
and  heavily  timbered. 

Crossing  the  Straits  of  Magellan,  we  liud  one  of  the  most 
miserable  and  desolate  couuti'ies  on  the  globe.  'J'eri'a  del 
Fuego,  the  land  of  lire,  so  called  becau.se  of  the  nunu^rous 
fires  seen  upon  its  coast  by  the  early  navigators,  is  a  cold 
and  barren  island.  The  surface  of  the  country  is  cither 
rocky  and  mountainou.s,  or  of  such  a  cold  and  miry  soil 
as  to  obstruct  travel  and  iini)rovement.  The  forests  are 
rendered  nearly  imj)'  ^.uible  by  under-growth.  The  inhab- 
itants arc  partly,  as  \,  mid  ap{)car,  of  the  same  race  with 
the  Patagonians,  but  as  i.  body  they  are  generally  classed 
with  the  Andian  Groupc,  and  considered  to  have  some 


llie  I'ainpas  In- 
lionses  uiul  oiiltlo 
tlioir  t'ountry  in 
.tree,  UMtaint'a1)lo 

coinfortrt  of  lil'o, 
exposure  anil  la- 
itaurs.     Kven  in 

little  in  thr  way 
^  of  tlie  sava^i-  is 
hifh  the  cnvrrin-; 
J  protc'fti'Mi. 
•  of  those  near  the 
thei'H,  went  cillaT 
Mned  not  to  dread 
t,  that  besides  the 

Snow,  their  very 
lieia  not  I'roni  iee." 

and  barren,  desli- 
ind  of  coarse  grass, 

ises  in  a  series  i>( 

I)  the  range  of  the 

many  parts  lertilo 


jid  one  of  the  most 
globe.     Terra  di'l 
L>  of  the  niuinn-ous 
[ivigators,  is  a  eold 
country  is  either 
[jold  and  miry  soil 
The  forests  are 
lowth.     The  inhah- 
l,hc  same  raee  with 
generally  elassed 
Lrcd  to  have  some 


TIIL  PATAQONIANS. 


631 


alTiiiity  to  the  Araueanians.  "One  descri})tlon,"  says 
I'ritehard,  "is  a))plieable  to  both  nations.  'I'heir  heads 
are  proportionubly  large;  tlieir  faces  round,  with  projeeting 
cheek-bones,  large  moutlis,  thick  lips,  short  fiattcMicd  nost'S, 
with  wide  nostiils  ;  tla.'ir  eyi'S  are  horizontally  jjlaeeil,  and 
not  inclined;  otherwise  their  countenance  Wijuld  api)ro.\i- 
mate  greatly  to  that  of  the  nomadic  Tartars:  they  have 
little  beard;  tlieir  l()reheads  are  narrow,  and  I'alliiig  back; 
their  ehins  broad  and  short." 

Among  tlie  nu)st  interesting  accounts  of  llu'se  Indians 
is  that  given  by  Cajitain  l''itx,rov,  in  the  "Narrative  of  the 
Voyages  of  the  Adventure  anij  the  Beagle,"  liieutenant 
Charles  Wilkes,  eomiuaudi'r  of  the  United  States'  explor- 
ing ex[)ed  ion,  has  also  very  graphically  described  the  ap- 
pearance ami  peculiarities  of  the  })eople  and  country. 

Fit/roy  estimates  th(>  wliole  ]H)i)ulation  at  about  three 
thousand  adults.  IMii'V  are  divided  into  five  different  tribes 
or  nations,  vi/:  the  Yaeanas,  Tekeenicas,  Alikhoolip, 
I'echerais,  and  Iluemuls.  The  name  of  Pecherais  was  be- 
stowe(l  by  Biiugainville  (as  dcsen))tive  of  their  mode  of  sub- 
sistence) ujion  those  coast  hulianswho  have  been  considered 
as  belonging  to  the  Araueanian  family.  The  Yaeanas 
appear  to  be  the  same  with  the  neighlioring  Patagonians. 

^riie  separate  tribes  diller  considerably  in  their  physical 
develoi>mcnt,  but  the  generality  of  tlicse  islanders  jircseut 
a  wri'telied  and  iniserable  aspect  of  deformity.  Their 
withered  and  emaciated  limbs  are  in  strong  contrast  to  the 
breadth  of  the  chest  and  the  si/.c  of  the  abdomen,  and 
the  squatting  position  always  assumed  by  them  when  at 
rest,  causes  the  skin  of  the  knee-joint  to  become  stretched 
and  loose:  when  standing,  it  hangs  in  unsightly  folds. 
Their  eyes  are  almost  universally  inflamed  and  sore  from 
the  cft'ects  of  the  smoke  in  their  wigwam?;.  There  arc  few 
races  ui)on  the  globe  who  bear  so  strongly  the  marks  of 
want  and  destitution. 


IL 


632 


INDIAN  IIACES  OF  AMERICA. 


Unlike  the  natives  of  the  cold  eliincs  of  Northern  Amer- 
ica, the  Fucgians  total'iy  neglect  the  precaution  of  fortify- 
ing themselves  against  the  severities  of  winter  by  warm 
and  comfortable  clothing.  The  majority  of  the  -men  go 
almost  entirely  naked.  A  single  skin  of  the  guanaco  (a 
southern  quadruped  of  the  genus  of  the  llama),  or  of  the 
diiferent  species  of  seal,  thrown  over  the  shoulders,  and, 
in  a  few  instances,  reduced  to  the  semblance  of  a  garment, 
by  a  girdle,  is  all  that  is  seen  in  the  way  of  clothing. 
Some  slight  lillets  are  worn  about  the  head,  rather  from 
a  fancy  for  ornament  than  as  a  covering.  The  females 
usually  wear  an  entire  guanaco  skin,  in  the  loose  fold  of 
which,  above  the  belt,  they  carry  their  infants:  a  more 
convenient  method  than  that  adopted  hi  some  northern 
climes,  of  stowing  the  child  in  the  huge  boot. 

The  huts  which  they  inhabit  are  built,  much  after  the 
fashion  of  the  ordinary  Indian  wigwatn,  of  poles  bent  to- 
gether at  the  top,  or  of  stiff  stakes  placed  in  the  form  of 
a  cone.  These  rude  dwellings  are  neither  tight  nor  com- 
ft)rtablc :  they  are  generally  intended  merely  for  tem})orary 
domiciles,  as  the  necessity  for  constant  migration  in  search 
of  the  products  of  the  sea  and  coast,  renders  any  jjerma- 
nent  settlement  impracticable.  The  arts  of  agriculture  are 
entirely  unknown  or  disregarded.  Sundry  attempts  have 
been  made  to  introduce  the  cultivation  of  such  vegetables 
as  the  soil  i ,  adapted  to  producing,  but  the  ignorance  and 
barbarity  of  the  iidiabitants  ])revented  their  a})preciation 
of  the  advantages  which  would  result  from  the  operation, 
and  the  experiments  utterly  failed. 

Most  of  the  Fucgians  are  sup])lied  with  roughly-con- 
structed bark  canoes.  In  the  centre  of  these  a  fire  is 
always  kept  burning  upon  a  bed  of  sand  or  ela3^  Fire  is 
obtained  by  striking  sparks  from  the  iron  pyrites  upon  a 
tinder  prepared  from  some  dried  fungus,  or  moss,  which 
materials  are  always  kept  at  hand;  but  the  difficulty  of 


THE  PATAGONIANS. 


G33 


with  rouglily-con- 
of  these  a  fire  is 
1  or  chi}^  Fire  is 
on  pyrites  upon  a 
IS,  or  moss,  which 
it  the  difliculty  of 


obtaining  a  flame  by  these  means  is  the  probable  reason 
for  their  care  in  preserving  the  embers  in  their  canoes. 

As  we  have  mentioned,  th^y  raise  no  vegetable  food, 
and  the  natural  products  of  the  country  are  exceedingly 
scanty.  All  that  the  inhabitants  can  procure  to  vary  their 
animal  diet  offish,  seals,  shell-fish,  &c.,  consists  of  "a  few 
berries,  as  the  cranberry  and  the  berry  of  the  arbutus; 
also  a  fungus  like  the  oak-a])})lc,  which  grows  on  the  bireh- 
tree.  With  the  exception  of  tliesc  spontaneous  produc- 
tions, and  dead  whales  thrown  occasionally  upon  the 
coast,  the  rest  of  their  food  must  be  obtained  by  their  own 
perseverance,  activity,  and  sagacity." 

A  race  of  dogs  is  domesticated  among  the  Fuegians,  by 
the  assistance  of  which  the  labor  and  difliculty  of  hunting 
the  guanaco,  otter,  &o.,  is  materially  alleviated.  The 
weapons  used  in  war  or  for  the  chase  are  bows  and  arrows, 
short  bone-headed  lances,  clubs,  and  slings.  The  Fuegians 
are  adepts  in  the  use  of  the  last-mentioned  implement,  and 
hurl  stones  with  great  force  and  accuracy. 

They  have  no  means  of  preserving  a  store  of  provision 
in  times  of  })lenty,  and  are  eonsetpiently  liable  to  suffer 
greatly  from  fixmine  when  storms  or  other  causes  cut  them 
oJf  from*  the  usual  resources  of  the  sea.  They  will  some- 
times bury  a  quantity  of  whale's  blubber  in  the  sand,  and 
devour  it  in  an  offensive  condition,  when  pressed  by  hun- 
ger. "In  Captain  Fitzroy's  narrative  there  is  an  account 
of  a  party  of  the  natives  who  were  in  a  famishing  state, 
on  which  some  of  the  tribe  departed,  observing  that  they 
would  return  in  four  'sleeps'  with  a  supjily  of  food.  On 
the  fifth  day  they  arrived  in  a  state  of  great  cxiiaustion, 
each  man  carrying  two  or  three  pieces  of  wluilf^-blubbtr, 
in  a  half  putrid  state,  and  which  ai)peared  as  if  it  had  been 
buried  in  the  sand.  A  hole  was  made  in  each  piece  through 
which  the  man  carrying  it  iiisertcd  his  head  and  neck." 
lleport  says  that,  as  a  last  resource,  when  other  food  can- 


rl. 
Ml 


iv 


[':"■''■'■■ 


•  I,  ■  '.■ 


h'^::',|.- 


'!      ". 


634 


INDIAN   EACES  OF  AMEKICA. 


not  be  obtained,  tlie  Fuegiaiis  kill  and  feed  upon  the  older 
and  more  unscrvieeablc  members  of  their  own  eoinnnmity. 

The  benevolent  Fitzroy,  deeply  interested  in  the  welfare 
of  these  unfortnnatc  islanders,  made  an  attempt,  in  1830, 
to  elVeet  some  iniprovcment  in  their  condition.  ITc  took 
four  of  them  with  him  to  England,  one  of  whom  died  of 
the  small-pox  shortl}'  after  landing.  The  others  were 
maintained  and  instrueted,  at  the  captain's  own  exjiense, 
until  October  of  tiic  following  year,  when  he  took  them 
on  board  tlie  Beagle  to  return  to  their  homes,  and  use  their 
influence  in  introducing  the  arts  and  comforts  of  civiliza- 
tion. One  Mattliews  accompanied  them  from  I'higland, 
with  the  purpose  of  assisting  their  efforts  among  their 
countrymen. 

Arriving  at  Terra  del  Fuego,  wigwams  were  built,  and 
a  garden  was  laid  out  and  planted  with  various  European 
esculents.  Cuiiosity  and  astonishment  were  the  first  feel- 
ings excited  by  these  operations ;  but  after  the  departure 
of  the  captain,  the  rude  natives,  uiuible  to  com]n-ehend  the 
motives  lor  the  experiment,  and  incapable  of  a]){)reciating 
the  advantages  in  store  for  them,  destroyed  the  little  })lant- 
ation.  Jennny  Button,  the  one  most  particularly  described 
of  those  carried  to  England,  when  seen,  a  few  years  after- 
wards, by  Captain  Fitzroy,  had  nearly  rela2)sed  into  his 
original  state  of  squalid  barbarity.  Matthews  left  the 
island  upon  the  first  failure  of  the  attempt  at  agriculture. 

Could  there  be  found  men  of  sunicient  self-devotion  to 
be  willing  to  take  up  their  abode  in  such  a  dreary  country, 
there  seems  to  be  reason  to  believe  that  the  Fuegians  might 
be  reclaimed.  They  do  not  lack  sagacity  or  intelligence, 
and  their  memories  are  r  ■larkably  retentive.  It  is  said 
that  "they  could  repeat  witn  perfect  correctness  each  word 
in  any  sentence  addressed  to  them,  and  they  remembered 
such  words  for  some  time." 

The  Fuegians  described  by  Commander  Wilkes,  as  seen 


.',(. 


THE   PATAGONIANS. 


6£5 


er  Wilkes,  as  seen 


at  Orange  Harbor,  were  of  tlie  Peclicrais  tribe.  His  de- 
scriptions correspond  with  tliose  of  former  voyagers,  but 
tlicir  interest  is  greatly  heightened  by  the  illustrations 
which  accompany  his  valuable  narrative.  "They  are," 
he  says,  "  an  ill-shapen  and  ugly  ^'ace.  They  have  little 
oi'  no  idea  of  the  relative  value  of  articles,  even  of  those 
that  one  would  suppose  were  of  the  utmost  use  to  them, 
such  as  iron  and  glass-ware.  A  glass  bottle  broken  into 
pieces  is  valued  as  much  as  a  knife.  Eed  flannel  torn  into 
stripes,  pleases  them  more  than  in  the  piece;  they  wound 
it  round  their  heads,  as  a  kind  of  turban,  and  it  was  aums- 
ing  to  see  their  satisfaction  at  this  small  acquisition." 

The  Indians  of  this  party  wore  no  other  clothing  than 
a  small  piece  of  seal-skin  appended  to  the  shoulder  and 
reaching  to  the  waist.  This  was  shifted  from  side  to  side 
according  to  the  direction  of  the  wind,  serving  rather  as 
a  shelter  than  a  covering.  Their  bark  canoes  were  of 
exceedingly  slight  construction,  "sewed  with  shreds  of 
whale-bone,  seal  skin,  and  twigs."  Their  navigat'-^^i  was 
mostly  confined  to  the  limits  of  the  kelp  or  sea-weed, 
where  the  water  was  calm,  and  they  could  assist  the  oper- 
ation of  their  small  and  inefficient  paddles  by  laying  hold 
of  the  marine  plants. 

Those  natives  who  were  taken  on  board  the  vessels, 
exhibited  little  or  no  astonishment  at  what  they  saw  avouiul 
them.  This  did  not  proceed  from  surliness  or  apathy,  for 
they  were  vivacious  and  cheerful,  and  apparently  happy 
aiul  contented.  A  most  uncontrollable  propensity  to  mim- 
icry prevented  the  establishment  of  any  kind  of  commu- 
nication, as,  instead  of  replying  to  signs  and  gestures,  they 
would  invariably  imitate  them  with  ludicrous  exactness. 
"Their  imitations  of  sounds  were  truly  astonishing.  One 
of  them  ascended  and  descended  the  octave  perfectly,  fol- 
lowing the  sounds  of  the  violin  jorrectly.  It  was  then 
found  he  could  sound  the  common  chords,  and  follow 


>  -J 


III 


If  ■;>■,:, 


1  i 
■  ( 


II '  , 


<■ 


636 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


througli  the  semitone  scale,  with  scarcely  an  error.  *  *  * 
Although  they  have  been  heard  to  shout  quite  loud,  yet 
they  cannot  endure  a  noise.  When  the  drum  beat,  or  a 
gun  was  fired,  they  invariably  stojiped  their  ears.  They 
alwa^'s  speak  to  each  cither  in  a  whisper.  Their  cautious 
manner  and  movements  prove  them  to  be  a  timid  race. 
The  men  are  exceedingly  jealous  of  their  women,  and 
will  not  allow  any  one,  if  they  can  help  it,  to  enter  their 
huts,  particularly  boys." 

When,  after  some  hesitation,  admittance  Was  gained  to 
the  huts  on  shore:  "The  men  creeping  in  first,  squatted 
themselves  directly  in  front  of  the  women,  all  holding  out 
the  small  })iece  of  seal-skin,  to  allow  the  heat  to  reach  their 
bodies.  I'he  women  were  squatted  three  deep  behind  the 
men,  the  oldest  in  front,  nestling  the  infants."  Most  writers 
s])oak  of  the  condition  of  the  Fuegian  women,  particularly 
of  this  race  of  Pecherais,  as  being  subjected  to  the  most 
severe  and  toilsome  drudgery.  "In  a  word,"  says  one, 
"the  Pecherais  women  are,  perhaps,  of  ali  the  savage 
women  of  America,  those  whose  lot  is  the  hardest."  Those, 
however,  seen  at  Orange  Harbor  had  small  and  well-shaped 
hands  and  feet,  "ami,  from  appearance,  they  are  not  accus- 
tomed to  do  any  hard  work." 

Some  vague  superstitious  belief  in  dreams,  omens,  &e., 
with  the  idea  of  an  evil  spirit  in  the  embodiment  of  "a 
great  black  man,  supposed  to  be  always  wandering  about 
the  woods  and  mountains,  who  is  certain  of  knowing 
ever}'  word  and  every  action,  who  cannot  be  escaped,  and 
who  influences  the  weather  according  to  men's  conduct," 
is  all  that  is  observable  of  religious  conceptions  <ui  the 
part  of  the  natives.  They  have,  connected  with  each 
tribe  or  casual  groupe,  a  man  wliom  their  fiincy  invests 
with  the  power  of  sorcerer  and  physician;  occiij)ying 
precisely  the  same  position  with  that  of  the  "powows"  of 
North  America. 


an  error.  *  *  * 
quite  loud,  yet 
drum  beat,  or  a 
leir  ears.  They 
Their  cautious 
be  a  tiinid  race, 
eir  women,  and 
it,  to  enter  tlicir 

ce  was  gained  to 
in  first,  squatted 
n,  all  holding  out 
leat  to  reach  their 
}  deep  behind  the 
ts."    Most  writers 
amen,  particularly 
ccted  to  the  most 
word,"  says  one, 
)f  all   the  savage 
ardest."    Those, 
1  and  well-shaped 
icy  are  not  aceus- 


!m 


cams,  omens,  &c., 

bodiment  of  "a 
wandering  about 

ain  of  knowing 
3t  be  escai)etl,  and 
o  men's  conduct," 
Duccptions  (Ui  the 
nected  with  each 

icir  fiincy  invests 
sician;   occupying 

the  "powows"  of 


IMPORTANT  ERAS  AND  DATES 

OF 

INTERESTING   EVENTS   IN  INDIAN   HISTORY. 


A.  D. 

544.  The  Toltccs,  according  to  ftncient  traditions,  commenced   their 

migration  from  the  north  to  the  vale  of  Anahuac,  or  Mexico. 
648.  The  Toltees  arrived  at  Toliaiitzinco,  in  Anahuac. 
982.  Eireli  the  Red  discovered  Greenland,  and  planted  a  colony  there. 
985.  ]{iarni  Horiulfson  discovered  the  American  coast. 
1008.  Thorlinn  Karlsefni  planted  a  colony  in  New  England. 
lO.')!.  The  Tultecs  destroyed  by  a  pestilence. 

1070.  The  barbarous  nation  of  tiie  Chiciiimet'as  succeeded  the  Toltees. 
1 170.  The  \ahuatlacas,  or  Seven  Tribes,  among  whom  were  the  Aztecs, 

commenced  their  migratiim  from  the  north. 
1325.  The  Aztecs  founded  the  city  of  ancient  Jlexico. 
1492.  Oct.  12.  Columbus  landed  at  Guanahani,  or  Cat  Island,  on  his  first 

voyage  of  discovery. 
1498.  Columbus  iirst  touched  the  shores  of  South  America,  and  held 

intercourse  with  the  Arawaks. 
l.OOO.  Jan.  26.  Vicente  Pinzon  landed  near^;;;'c  St.  Augustine,  at  the 
eastern  extremity  of  South  America,  and  took  formal  possession. 
1501.  Portuguese  discoverers,  under  Vespucius,  landed  at  Brazil. 
1509.  Juan  de  Solis  slain  by  the  natives  at  the  estuary  of  I.ji  Plata. 

1518.  \j.  Velasquez  de  Ayllon  landed  on  the  Carolina  coast  in  search  of 

Indian  slaves  and  gold. 

1519.  Nov.  8,  Cortez  entered  the  city  of  Mexico,  and  held  his  first  inter- 

view with  the  Emperor  ilontezuma. 

1520.  Night  of  July  1.  The  "Noche  Triste,"  on  which  the  Spaniards 

made  their  disastrous  retreat  from  the  city  of  Mexico. 

1521.  Towards  the  close  of  May,  the  Spaniards,  with  reinforcements, 

having  again  advanced  upon  the  Aztec  capital,  Inid  close  siege  to  it. 
"     Aug.  13.  Gautimozin,  successor  to  Montezuma,  was  taken  prisoner, 

and  the  city  fell  into  the  power  of  the  Spanish  invaders. 
1524.  Nov.  Francisco  Pizarro  sailed  on  his  first  expedition  to  Peru. 
1528.  Expedition  of  Pamphilo  de  Narvaez  to  Florida,  with  a  party  of 

four  hundred  men.    About  forty  horses  were  landed — the  first 

ever  seen  by  the  natives. 

1531.  Pizarro  landed  and  established  himself  in  Peru. 

1532.  Nov.  15.  Entry  of  Pizarro  into  Caxamalca,  and  first  interview  of 

his  oHicers  with,  the  Inca,  Atahualli)a. 
"     Nov.  16.  Horrible  massacre  of  the  Imiians,  and  seizure  of  the  Inca 

1533.  Aug.  29.  Atahuallpa  infamously  put  to  death,  by  the  garrotte. 
"      Nov.  Entry  of  t!ie  Spaniards  into  Cuzco,  the  capital  of  Peru. 

1635.  Almagro's  expedition  into  Chili. 


m 


■I,",' 


■f.  i 


''f  * 


t/r<,  i^ 


638  INDIAN  llACES  OF  AMERICA. 

A.  D, 

1538.  Miiy.  Foriinndo  dc  Soto  landed  at.  Tampa  Bay.    Tlie  bloody  sceniis 

attpiidiint  upon  the  comiucst  of  Florida  ensued. 
1540.  Pedro  Valdivia's  invasion  ot'Cliili. 

1552.  His  progress  throuffli  Araueo. 

1553.  IX-e.  3.  (Jreat  Itattle  lictwecn  the  Spaniards  and  the  Araueanians, 

in  wliii'h  the  latter,  under  Caiipoliean,  ffained  a  sji^nal  vietory. 

1555.  The  Spanish  town  of  Conception  attacked  and  destroyed  by  tiio 

Araueanians,  under  I.jiutaro. 

1556.  Lautaro  surprised  and  slain  liy  Villarjran. 

1558.  K.vpedition  of  (Jareia  de  ISIi'ndo/.a  to  the  arohipelafijo  of  t'liihie. 
1562.  Freiieh  refnj^ees  settled  peaceably  amon<j  the  Indiaiis  on  the  St. 
John's  river,  Florida. 

1584.  Atnidas  and  Harlow  o[)ened  a  friendly  intercourse  witii  the  Vir- 

•rinia  Indians. 

1585.  Those  belonj^inj,'  to  Sir  Richard  (irenville's expedition  to  Virj;inia 

eoinnieiieed  outrai.a'S  and  hostilities,  which  resniteil  in  the  de- 

stiMiclion  of  several  successive  colonies. 
15!)5.  llaleii,'!)  entt'red  the  Orinoco, and  iield  interctourse  with  the  natives. 
15i)8.  Nov.  lireat  risini,'  of  the  CliiliMns,  under  the  Tocpii  I'ailianuu'hu: 

<'.\pnlsioiHif  the  Spaniards  from  tlii'  Anuu'anian  territory. 
1006.  15arllioloniew   liosnoll's  ex|)edition  to  Virj,rinia;  with  wiiicii  the 

ci'lcbi'ated  (.'aptain  John  Smith  was  connected. 
1(J08.  June.  Smitii's  exploration  of  the  ("hcsapi'akc,  his   first  meeting 

witii  the  iMassawoineke>',  or  lro([Uois. 
•'      In  the  autunni  of  this  year,  I'ouiiatan  was  forir.ally  crowned — the 

regalia  having  been  sent  over  tVom  I'lnghind. 
*'      Dec.  Powhatan's  conspiracy  against  Smith  and  his  party,  and  their 

preservation  by  Pocahontas. 
I(jl3.  Pocahontas  sei/.ed  and  detained  by  (^aptain  Argall. 

•'      April.  .Marriage  of  I'ooahontas  to  John  llolfe. 
11J14.  Tiiomas  Hunt  landed  at  Monhegan,  and  enticed  twenty-four  In- 

dians  on  board  his  vessel,  whom  he  carried  to  Europe  as  slaves. 
I(il7.  Pocalnmtas  died,  at  (iravesend,  in  Kiigland. 
1618.  l»owhafaii  died. 

1620.  Nov.  y.  The  May-Flower  arrived. 

"      Dec.  8.  First  hkirnii.-h  of  the  N.  Kngland  settlers  with  the  natives. 
"      Dec.  22.  Their  landing  at  Plymouth. 

1621.  March  22.  Treaty  between  the  Plymouth  settlers  and  .Massasoit. 

1622.  March  22.  (ireat  nnissacre  of  the  Virginia  settlers,  by  the  Indians, 

set  on  by  Opechancanough:  three  hundrec)  and  forty-seven  killed. 

1625.  ilreat  battle  witii  tiie  Caribson  the  island  o;"  St.  Christopher;  two 
.JKUisand  of  that  nation  destroyed. 

1628.  Fire-arms  extensively  dill'nsed  among  the  Indians  of  New  England, 
by  Dntch  traders  and  otie  Thomas  Morton. 

1637.  Tiie  Peipiod  War  broke  out:   siege  of  the  English  garrison  at 
Saybrook. 
"      June  5.  A  little  before  day  the  Pequod  fort  attacked  and  destroy- 
ed; barbarous  destruction  of  women  and  children. 

16 10.  Peace  concluded  between  the  Spanish  coioi.'ista  under  Francisco 
Zuniga,  und  the  Araueuniuns. 


f,..' 


'1' '  '.:  i! 


The  bloody  scenes 
3d. 


id  the  Aniucimiiiiw, 
\  ii  siirnivl  virtdvy. 
id  destroyed  by  the 


upclii^m  of  Cliiloe.^ 
•  Indians  i»ii  the  ht. 


course 


with  the  Vir- 


i.xi>cditiont()Viv!j;ii|i:i 
,  ivs\ilti'd  ill  th''  •''■- 

>urHi'  will)  tlu-  luitives. 
cToiiui  I'ailhiiiKU'liu; 
•111111111  tcrritoiy. 
rini;i;  Willi  whu'h  the     :j 
.■ted.  .. 

;ilie,  his  first  nu'otmg    . 

tbr'.nidly  crowned— the 

nd.  , ,.    . 

and  his  party,  and  their 

1  Argall. 

,nticed  twenty-four  In- 
d  to  Europe  as  slaves. 


Utlers  with  the  natives. 

ifttlcrs  and  Massasoit. 
J  settlers,  l)y  the  liiaiaiis, 
|l  and  forty-seven  UiUeil. 
,;"tSt.  Christopher;  two 

Idians  of  New  England, 

be  English  garrison  at 

it  attacked  and  dcstroy- 

I'liildren. 
loi-ists  under  Francisco 


IMPORTANT  EIIAS  AND  DATES. 


639 


iunians. 


A.  D. 

1613.  Miantoninio  put  to  death  by  Uiicas. 

Ifitl.  Sccdiid  Virginia  massacre,  planned  by  0|)ecliancanongh. 

Itji');!.  'I'iu'  nation  of  the  Erics  externiinati'd  by  the  Irocpiois. 

Hiti'J.  I'hilip,  or  Mct.iconut,  succeeded  his  brother  Alexander. 

Hifi.O.  Peace  i\<^Mn  concluded  i)etween  the  Spaiiiaids  and  Arauca 

1()7.').  .luni!  21.  ().  S.  First  h!ood  shed  in  Kiiiif  I'hilip's  war. 

1()7.'>.  Dec.  19.   Destruction  of  the  Narragansett  Ibrt. 

1G7().  Aug.  1"2.  I'iiilip  killed  by  an  Indian  of  ('aptnin  Church's  party. 

"      Aug.  Capture  of  Annawon,  hy  ('liurch,  and  end  of  the  war. 
1()82.  Dix-.  First  treaty  of  WiUiani  I'eiin  witii  the  Delawaies. 
lfiS8.  In\asiim  of  Cana<l,'i.  and  attack  on  .Montreil  i)y  t!ie  Iroijuois. 
niO.  First  deputation  of  Irtxiuois  chiefs  to  the  court  of  t^ueen  Anno. 
1711.  Se|)t.  2il.  iMass..,,('  of  wiiites  in  Norlli  ( 'aroliua,  by  the  Tuscnroias. 
1713.  March  'Jti.  'J'iie  'i'n^carora  fort  on  'Ww  river  destroyed  by  Colonel 

iMo(He — eight  iuiiulred  prisoners  t;iken. 
Union  of  the  main  body  of  the  Tuscarorns  witli  the  Iroiiuois. 
17i2"J.  Xov.  30.  Massacre  of  the  Fieiich  inhahitants  of  Natchez,  by  the 

Natchez  Indians. 
1738.  Nearly  one-half  of  the  Ciierokeea  destroyt'd  by  the  siuiill-pox. 
171I>.  Singular  intiimus  of  tlie  Reverend  TlKunas  ihisonnvorth  and  his 

wife,  the  hall-lireed,  Ma.y  Mnsirrove,  ainonif  the  Creeks. 
17.j().  Settlement  of  dillicultics  lietwi'cu Spanish  and  I'ortnguese  colonics 

on  the  river  l.a  Plata — thirty  thousand  (iuarani  Indians  expatriated. 
1755.  .Inly  !).  Disastrous  deleat  of  (reneral  iir.uhinek,  hy  the  French  and 

Indians,  a  few  miles  tVom  Fort  l)u(|ucsne. 
1759.  Winter.  War  lietweeii  the  Cherokees  and  the  British  coloi.ists. 
171)0.  Spring.  Coloiu'l  Montgomery's  ex]ieiiition  against  the  Cherokees: 

destruction  ot'all  tlu  ir  towns  I'ast  of  the  lilue  liidge. 
17<)1.  S[)ring.  Colonel  (iranl's  c.im[iaign  against  the  Cherokees:  their 

reduction,  and  the  nivage  of  their  towns  in  the  interior. 
17(i3.  M.'iy.  Siege  of  Detroit  ciunmenci'd  hy  I'ontiac. 
"      July  3U.  iJatlle  of  JJloody  Ihidge, and  terrihle  destruction  of  Eng- 
lish troops  under  Captain  Dalyell,  hy  I'ontiac  ;ind  his  warriors. 
1773. 1'caci'  concluded  between  the  Spaniards  !nul  the  AraucaMians. 
1771.  In  the  spring  of  this  year  connneiiced  the  hloody  war  in  Western 

Virginia  and  Fennsylvania,  known  asCresap's  war. 
"     Oct.  10.  (ircat  battle  at  Point  Pleasant— mouth  of  the  Kanawha. 

1777.  .luly.  IJattle  of  Oriskany;  (ieneral  Herkimer  mortally  wounded. 

1778,  ,luly  4.  Destruction  of  the  settlements  in  the  valley  of  Wyoming. 
"      Nov.  Massacre  at  Cherry-Valley. 

177!).  Sept.  (ieneral  Sullivan's  campaign  against  the  Iroquois:  destruc- 
tion of  all  their  towns,  cro[)s,  fruit-trees,  and  stores. 
1780.  Aug.  Ravage  (d'a  portion  oi'the  Mohawk  valley,  by  Rrant. 
1781.()Ireat  insurrection  of  the  Peruvian  Indians,  under  Tupac  Amaru. 

"      .June.  Grand  cor.ncil  of  war  held  hy  the  western  tribes. 

"     Defe.it  (d"  Colonels  Todd,  Trigg,  and  party,  near  the  Rlue  Licks. 

"      Indian  towns  of  Chilicothe,Pecaway,&c., destroyed  by  (Icn.  Clarke. 
1785.  Rrant  visited  England,  and  wjis  received  w  ith  llatteriiig  atUuition. 
178o.  Dec.  (band  C'ouucil  oi'  Western  Indians,  at  Huron  Village. 
1791.  Autumn.  Unsuccessful  expedition  of  General  llarniar. 


^■M- 


720 

A.D. 

1791. 


1794. 

1804. 

1809. 

1810. 

1811. 

1813. 

1813. 

1813. 

1814. 

1823. 

1829. 

.830. 

1831. 
1832. 

u 
<( 

u 

1835. 

(I 
1836. 

1836. 
1837, 

1838, 
1842. 


INCLUDING  ILLUSTR.VTIONS. 

Nov.  4.  Disiistrous  clofeut  of  General  St.  Clair,  by  the  Indian.?, 

under  Little  Turtle,  near  the  Minnii. 
Auir.  20.  Battle  of  l're.s(juc  isle,  in  wliiili  the  Western  Indians, 

uiuier  JJlue  Jaeket,  Were  sijriijiljy  defeated  by  General  Wayne. 
Elskwatawa,  the   |)roj>liet,   hrotlier   of  Teeuniseh,   engaged  in 

intrigues  among  tiie  tril)es  of  the  west. 
Sept.  (,'ession  of   lands  on  the  Wabash,  obtained  by  General 

Harrison  from  the  indians. 
Departure  of  Teeuniseh  southward,  for  the  purpose  of  rousing 

up  the  Creeks,  Cherokees,  &e. 
Night  of  Nov.  G.  Battle  at  tiie  Prophet's  Town,  in  whieh  Elskwa- 

tawa's  fories  were  defeated  and  dispersed  by  General  ll.Mrrison. 
Aug.  30.  Saek  of  Fort  Minuns,  in  tlie  Tensau  settlement,  by  the 

great  Creek  warrior  Weatherford,  with  fifteen  hundred  Indians. 
Oet.  5.  Battle  of  the  Thames:  the  great  Indian  ehief  Teenmseii 

killed. 
Nov.  29.  Battle  of  Autosse;  drjstruetion  of  two  hundred  Indians 

by  General  Floyd's  forees,  aided  by  Indian  allies  led  by  M'Intosh. 
Mareh  27.  Battle  of  llorse-shoe  Bend,  in  the  Tallapoosie:  the 

Creeks  and  other  sonthern  Indians  defeated  by  General  Jackson. 
Sept.  18.  Treaty  of  IMoultric  (Jreek,  by  whieh  the  Seminoles  were 

to  remove  witiiin  certain  limits. 
Dee.  20.  Acts  passed  by  the  Georgia  legislature,  annulling  the 

Cherokee  laws,  and  infringing  upon  tlu^  rights  of  that  people. 
July.  Treaty  at  Prairie  lUi  Chien,  willi  the  Sacs  and  Foxes,  lowas, 

Siou.x,  &c.,  concerning  cession  of  lands  east  of  the  Mississip()i. 
June.  General  Gaines"  expedition,  to  compel  removid  of  the  S;ies. 
May  8.  Treaty  of  Payne's  Landing,  by  the  provisions  of  which 

the  Seminoles  were  to  remove  west  of  the  Mississippi. 
May  14.  Defeat  of  Major  Stillnian  iind  his  forees,  by  Blaek-IIawk. 
Aug.  2.  Blaek-llawk's  forees  defeated  by  General  Atkinson. 

"      27.  Surrender  of  Black-Hawk  and  the  Prophet. 
Oet.  The  Florida  War  commenced. 
Dec.  Treaty  of  New  Echota  with  the  Cherokees,  (known  as 

Schermerhorn's  treaty)  upon  the   subject  of  removal   of  that 

nation  west  of  the  Mississippi. 

Dec.  28.  Destruction  of  Dade's  detachment,  by  the  Seminoles. 
Mareh  14.  Schermerhorn's  treaty  with  the  Cherokees  ratified  by 

Congress. 
Spring.  General  Scott's  campaign  in  Florida. 
Jan.  22.  General  Jessup  moved  southward  towards  the  everglades 

in  pursuit  of  the  Seminoles. 
Oct.  3.  Black-Hawk  died,  at  the  age  of  73. 
The  Florida  war  at  an  end:  several  hundred  Indians  transported 

west  of  the  Mississippi. 


THE    END. 


1 


s. 

Hair,  by  the  Indiiins, 

,lic  Western  Indians, 
jy  Generiil  Wayne. 
L;uniscli,   engaged  in 

ul)taincd  by  General 

)  purpose  of  rousinif 

\vn,  in  vvhii'h  Elskwa- 
)y  General  Harrison, 
an  settlement,  by  the 
'en  Imndred  Indians, 
idian  chief'Tecuniseii 

two  hundred  Indians 
dlies  led  by  M'lntosli. 
the  Tallapoosie:  the 
1  by  General  Jackson, 
h  the  SeniinoU'8  were 

daturo,  annulling  the 
^fhts  of  tiiat  people, 
aes  and  Foxes,  lowas, 
it  of  the  Mississippi. 
1  removal  of  tlie  Sacs. 
!  provisions  of  which 
I  Mississippi, 
orces,  by  Blaek-IIawk. 
Jeneral  Atkinson, 
e  Prophet. 

herokees,  (known  as 
t  of  removal  of  that 

,,  by  the  Seminoles. 
Cherokees  ratitied  by 


a. 


towards  the  cversrlades 


id  Indians  transported 


